New Zealand makes 276-8 in 3rd ODI vs. Sri Lanka
NELSON, New Zealand (AP) Kane Williamson marked his return from injury with a 65-ball half century which helped New Zealand to 276-8 as it batted first Thursday in the third one-day cricket international against Sri Lanka.
Williamson missed the first two matches of the five-match series with a knee injury but returned for the potential decider just in time to take over the captaincy from Brendon McCullum who aggravated a back injury in game two.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand's top order was less commanding Thursday on a pitch at Saxton Oval which was slower and lower than those on which the first two matches were played.
Chastened by the pre-match words of captain Angelo Mathews, who described their previous performances in the series as ''embarrassing and pathetic'', Sri Lanka bowled well and fielded with enthusiasm.
The visitors claimed wickets regularly, preventing the New Zealand innings from gaining momentum and leaving itself with an attainable total to keep the series alive.
New Zealand looked likely to dominate again when Martin Guptill, who made 79 in the first match and 93 not out in the second, hurried to 30 from 28 balls in a 42-run opening partnership with Tom Latham.
But Guptill fell at that score and though Williamson arrived to steady the innings with his innings of 59, New Zealand was forced into a less aggressive approach than in Christchurch and the scoring never gained any real pace.
Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay gave Sri Lanka's spirits a huge boost when he dismissed Latham (42) and Ross Taylor (0) in the space of three balls.
Latham top-edged a sweep to Nuwan Pradeep at fine leg and, after being beaten first ball, Taylor prodded at the second and was caught at slip by Mathews.
Williamson sought to rebuild the innings and seemed well on the way to doing so when he reached his 18th half century in one-day internationals. He hit three successive fours from the bowling of Mathews, effectively hitting the Sri Lanka captain out of the attack, and he looked set for another big score.
But at 59 he received a full toss from spinner Milinda Siriwardana and, in his surprise, managed only to hoist the ball to Dushmantha Chameera at mid-on. The young paceman Chameera played a vital part in the Sri Lanka effort, removing Guptill and Henry Nicholls (20) to finish with 2-38, taking the catch to remove Williamson and effecting the run out of Mitchell Santner (38) who was New Zealand's last hope of a taxing score.
The New Zealand tail wagged as Doug Bracewell (30) put on 42 for the eighth wicket with Adam Milne who finished 17 not out. Tim Southee then elevated the New Zealand total by plundering 18 from the last four balls of the innings.
New Zealand leads the five-match series 2-0, after winning the first match by seven wickets and the second by 10 wickets.
