New Zealand opening batsman Jesse Ryder’s 74 runs helped the team to reach a good score of 315/7 from 50 overs, which in turn helped them defeat the Sri Lanka by 38 runs at the Wanderers.
With this, Sri Lanka’s hopes of an ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals comes to an end.
Ryder batted with a runner after picking up a groin strain in the fifth over and though the burly left-hander was in discomfort, he didn’t let it hamper his fluent stroke-play.
New Zealand overcame a mid-innings blip that saw five wickets fall cheaply with Martin Guptill (66), skipper Daniel Vettori (48) and McCullum (46) other significant contributors.
Sri Lanka were all out for 277 off 46.4 overs in reply with the big early stands they needed never materialising and it was left to Mahela Jayawardene (77) to keep hopes flickering until he became the seventh wicket to fall.
Nuwan Kulasekara, ranked among the top fast bowlers in the world, proved he is no slouch with the bat either, hitting an unbeaten 57 off 56 balls, including four sixes and two fours
It was a disappointing final mini-league outing for the Sri Lankans, who began with a bang last Tuesday by surprising hosts South Africa before suffering a six-wicket loss to England.
Vettori has repeatedly stressed the need for good partnerships and his wish was realised by Ryder, who hit 10 fours and a six before edging Kulasekara to skipper Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps.
