Watch the highlights of New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 7th Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1988 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 7th ODI match played between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Bellerive Oval, Hobart in 12th January 1988.
Ravi Ratnayeke and Arjuna Ranatunga's combined 5-wickets before Half-centuries from Roshan Mahanama and Aravinda de Silva helped to Sri Lanka morale-boosting four-wicket victory over New Zealand in a low-scoring game of the seven-match match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
New Zealand scored 199-7 in 50 overs with top scorer by Richard Hadlee scored 52 off 68-balls including 2-fours.
Tiny Blain cracked a unbeaten 49 off 96-balls including 4-fours, Martin Crowe scored 25 off 34-balls included 3-fours and Ken Rutherford 24.
Sri Lanka best bowler by Ravi Ratnayeke picked up 3-wickets for 33-runs in 9-overs including a maiden, Arjuna Ranatunga took 2-wickets and one for Champaka Ramanayake.
Sri Lanka chased 200-6 in 46.3 overs with top scorer by Roshan Mahanama struck 58 off 83-balls including 4-fours & a six.
Aravinda de Silva scored 55 off 102-balls including 5-fours & a six and Ravi Ratnayeke hit a unbeaten 21 off 25-balls included 2-fours.
New Zealand best bowler by Richard Hadlee captured two-wickets for 22-runs in 10-overs including a maiden with economy rate of 2.20,
This match reported by The Age Staff (Third Party Reference from The Age)
New Zealand seems certain to send an SOS for replacements for some its injured stars in the buildup to the finals in the World Series Cup.
The Kiwis have been hard hit by injury in recent games and the unavailability of batsmen Andrew Jones and Phil Horne and bowlers Martin Snedden and John Bracewell contributed to a surprising four-wicket loss to Sri Lanka at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
New Zealand's cricket manager, Gren Alabaster, said the Kiwis were considering calling for replacements for both Snedden and Bracewell.
"Their back injuries are a par ticular worry to us and have left our bowling a bit thin," Alabaster said.
Set a target of 200 runs from their allotted 50 overs, the Sri Lankans achieved it for the loss of six wickets, with 3.3 overs to spare.
It was the tiny country's first victory in a World Series Cup match since it beat Australia in a boilover in Melbourne in 1984-85.
Sri Lankan captain Ranjan Madugalle was ecstatic after his side's win in what was the first international to be played at the TCA's new headquarters on the eastern shore of Hobart's Derwent River.
Madugalle thanked the crowd for its support and said it had played a big part in his team winning.
"Your people were very pro-Sri Lanka and that really gave us a lift," he said.
"This win keeps our finals hopes alive and will do a lot of good for cricket lovers back in Sri Lanka."
He admitted it had been important to win the toss because the wicket had assisted the seam bowlers early in the game.
This was obvious as New Zealand's top order collapsed to be struggling at 5/70 after 23 overs.
The hero of Sri Lanka's win was opening batsman Roshan Mahanama, whose 58 from 83 balls with four 4s and one 6, deservedly won him the man-of-the-match award.
It was Mahanama's third one-day half century in the past three matches and it has been his form and that of the man with whom he batted so well yesterday, Aravinda De Silva, which has enabled Sri Lanka to recover after a very disappointing start to the series.
Mahanama and De Silva rattled on 103 runs in 94 minutes for the third wicket after coming together with the score at 2/33. De Silva continued his fine form with the bat by hitting 55 from 102 balls with five 4s and one 6.
When Madugalle holed out to John Wright at mid-on off the bowling Ken Rutherford for 10 in the 41st over, Sri Lanka still needed 33 to win and there were some signs of panic. But these were put to rest by the positive approach of Ravi Ratnayeke. He followed up his good performance with the ball, taking 3/33 from nine overs, to hit 21 not out from 25 balls with two 4s.
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