Sport - Cricket

Atapattu, Sangakkara prop up Sri Lanka

Sharjah April 14. Marvan Atapattu hit his third successive half-century as Sri Lanka made 243 for nine from 50 overs against New Zealand in the Sharjah Cup here on Sunday.

Atapattu stroked a superb 82 to lift Sri Lanka to 162 for two, before a disciplined New Zealand attack grabbed seven wickets for 62 runs in the day-night international.

The Sri Lankans were reduced to 224 for nine, but last-wicket pair of Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa added 19 valuable runs. Chris Harris claimed three for 43 while Ian Butler tied down the Sri Lankans with two for 32 from 10 overs.

Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara (50) put on 114 for the second wicket after skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was trapped leg-before by Daryl Tuffy off the third ball of the innings.

Mahela Jayawardena, who made 39, was the only other batsman to settle in as three of the top six batsmen failed to reach double figures.

A victory for Sri Lanka will carry it to next Wednesday's final of the $ 250,000 event. Pakistan and New Zealand play the last league match on Monday with the winner almost certain to make the final.

Captain Stephen Fleming returned to the New Zealand side after missing the previous match against Pakistan due to a finger injury, but the Kiwis lost the services of wicketkeeper Chris Nevin.

Nevin suffered a hamstring injury at practice before the start of play, forcing Matthew Sinclair to keep wickets.

Sinclair picked up a smart catch off Harris to remove Dilshan Tillekeratne for two as Sri Lanka lost three middle- order batsmen in the space of seven runs. — AFP

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