New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Dilshan finally lost his wicket after amassing a superbly paced knock of 116. But then it was too late for the hosts to engineer a comeback.. Eventually, SL won by a margin of 6 wickets. Sri Lanka have to be given credit for the way they came back into game after McCullum powered his way to a 100.

The hosts on the other hand, would be ruing the fact that they couldn't capitalise on the great start given by McCullum. A score of 248 on this belter of a wicket and that too it being a small ground was never going to be enough. The bowlers tried hard but they just didn't have enough runs to defend. In short, the visitors yet again showed that they are a fine unit in the abridged version of the game. The third ODI should turn out to be another keenly contested game.

Despite losing experienced batsmen, Sangakkara and Jaywardene, Dilshan held the innings together to give Sri Lanka the clear upper hand. This has been an excellent fight back from the visitors. When McCullum was going all guns blazing, Sri Lanka looked lost for ideas.

Arm4zR5VRO

WrQkedrNy3

Dilshan, the Sri Lankan veteran then composed a ton by showcasing calmness and composure. He twinned caution with aggression to keep the Kiwi bowlers at bay. Dilshan, who scored his 19th hundred has certainly put Sri Lanka in the driver's seat.

Milne, the trump card in the New Zealand ranks, beat Sangakkara for a bit of pace to take the vital wicket for the home team. It was a back of a length delivery, and the left-hander couldn't time his pull shot as well as he wanted to because of the extra pace and was caught by Tom Latham. Dilshan though, is still there at the crease and is batting fluently.

Just in the nick of time, it was Nathan McCullum, who snared the wicket of Karunaratne. The ball skidded off the surface to hit Karunaratne's knee-roll and the batsman was rightly adjudged lbw. A key wicket to take as Karunaratne has the technique and the application to notch up big scores.

Sri Lankan openers started on a good note as they looked to chase down the target of 249. Karunaratne and Dilshan played with calmness and composure to counter the threat of both Matt Henry and Adam Milne. New Zealand need early wickets for sure.

Despite some fine lusty blows by Boult in the end overs, New Zealand would be disappointed with their score of 248. At ome time, when McCullum was going all guns blazing, the hosts looked set to amass a score of over 300, but a slew of run outs didn't help their cause. The Lankan bowlers also need to be given the credit for keeping it tight and not losing the plot when McCullum was thwacking fours and sixes.

Sri Lanka made a fabulous comeback by taking quick wickets after McCullum composed a belligerent hundred. The hosts had themselves to blame for as poor running between the wickets saw both Vettori and Ronchi losing their wickets. New Zealand certainly haven't made use of the wonderful 100 essayed by McCullum.

It was Jeevan Mendis, who finally took the key wicket of McCullum. For once, McCullum didn't go through with the shot and was caught and bowled by Mendis. McCullum though, has erected a solid platform for the home side with his belligerent ton.

McCullum continued to raze hapless Sri Lankan bowlers all over the ground and went onto make a well-deserved ton. It has been a trademark innings from McCullum as he has explored every nook and cranny of the ground to thwack 12 fours and four sixes till now. It turned out to be his fifth ton.

The first ODI in Hamilton was played way back in February 1981 between New Zealand and India. It was then called as Trust Bank Park. On a wicket that offered plenty of assistance for the seamers, New Zealand comfortably won the game by 57 runs. In fact, the margin of victory could have been bigger but the hosts dropped three easy chances during the early overs.

After being inserted in by Vishwanath, India's the-then captain, the hosts made 210 for 8, largely on the back of Coney's knock of 46. For India, Kapil Dev, the spearhead, bowled with unremitting accuracy. For the Indian batsmen, to chase down the target, it was always going to be a tall order as they were playing in alien conditions. Eventually, the visitors were bundled out for a mere 153. Vengsarkar top-scored with 41. All the seamers in the opposition camp chipped in with wickets to take the hosts to a facile win.

qVPZEmjJJy

Just like a spring of champagne that bubbled forth with fizz and sparkle, McCullum, with his magical blade enraptured the crowd in Hamilton. He thwacked a whirlwind fifty off just 39 balls. In particular, he took heavy toll on Perera by smashing him for two fours and a six in a single over. The way he got struck into Perera by clobbering him over long off was a sight to behold! Despite New Zealand losing Latham, the hosts look well-set to aggregate a big score.