Watch the highlights of New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI 1991 - Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 3-match one-day international series of the 1st ODI match played between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Basin Reserve, Wellington in 26th January 2025.
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| John Wright hit match-winning 64 © NZC |
Chris Pringle and Gavin Larsen's each two wickets before Opener John Wright's half-century steers to New Zealand convincing five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka and take a 1-0 lead in a low-scoring game of the first ODI.
Sri Lanka scored 177-8 in 50 overs with top scorer by Arjuna Ranatunga cracked a 29 off 59-balls including a boundary.
Asanka Gurusinha scored 28 off 47-balls without a boundary, Charith Senanayake, Hashan Tillakaratne each shared 26-runs contained two boundaries and Graeme Labrooy scored a unbeaten 22 off 29-balls with a boundary.
New Zealand best bowler by Gavin Larsen captured two-wickets for 25-runs in 10-overs including three maidens with economy rate of 2.50,Chris Pringle took 2-wickets and one for Willie Watson - Chris Harris.
New Zealand chased 178-5 in 42.3 overs with top scorer by John Wright cracked a 64 off 113-balls, Mark Greatbatch hit a unbeaten 29 off 37-balls contained 2-fours.
Andrew Jones scored 29 off 60-balls including a boundary and Richard Reid hit 19 off 31-balls contained two boundaries.
John Wright named Player of the match for his match-winning superb 64 off 113-balls including 6-fours.
This match reported by NZPA via The Canberra Times
New Zealand cruised to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first of three one-day cricket internationals at McLean Park.
Sri Lanka struggled to reach 177-8, hardly a defendable total on a wicket which offered plenty runs.
The New Zealanders reached the target for the loss of just five wickets in the 42nd over.
New Zealand captain Martin Crowe was pleased with the first up effort.
"We're comfortable playing at home, we stuck to the basics," he said.
Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga was disappointed with his team's total admitting it was never going to be easy to defend.
After winning the toss, Crowe invited Sri Lanka to bat on a hard wicket which offered little assistance to the bowlers.
Most of the tourists got starts but none stayed to compile a telling score.
Both openers Charith Senanayake and Hashan Tillakaratne scored 26 each, while Asanka Gurusinha, who was involved in a silly run out, scoring 28.
The Sri Lankans best score came from Ranatunga (29) while Graeme Labrooy, remained unbeaten on 22.
New Zealand hardly appeared troubled when they began the run chase.
Richard Reid (19) and John Wright (64 and man-of-the-match) put on 46 for the first wicket in just 11 overs.
Crowe, who came in at No 3 may have become embroiled in a controversy when he appeared to glove a ball off Champaka Ramanayake to wicketkeeper Tillakaratne when on one.
However, umpire Graham Cowan stood unmoved as the Sri Lankans looked on in disbelief.
Crowe was out just six balls later though, adding two further runs, when he edged Ramanayake to Tillakaratue.
Ian Smith, going in to finish the match quickly, lasted only one ball when he was caught by the wicketkeeper off the bowling of Rumesh Ratnayake.
Greatbatch (29 not out) and Chris Harris (11 not out) carried New Zealand home to victory.
Wright, who scored yet another half century on what is fast becoming his favourite ground, brought up his 50 from 94 balls and his 64 in 105 balls.
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