Cricket: Black Caps thumped in Florida

Scoreboard

New Zealand were thumped by Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Pearls Cup Twenty20 cricket international in Florida today.

New Zealand could not defend their inadequate 81 on a poor batting surface at Lauderhill as Sri Lanka cruised to victory in the 16th over.

Tillakaratne Dilshan led the way for Sri Lanka with a fine 33 not out off 49 balls while Thissara Perera lent support with 24 off 17.

New Zealand, who won the first match in the two-match series by 28 runs yesterday, were always up against it after struggling on a low, slow and inconsistent pitch.

They could piece together just 81 off 17.3 overs after being routed by seamers Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga and spinner Ajantha Mendis.

Kulasekara was principally responsible for reducing New Zealand to 13 for five inside the opening five overs as their top order disintegrated.

He finished with the outstanding figures of three for four off three overs before Malinga collected three for 12 and Mendis two for 19.

Only two New Zealand batsmen reached double figures, with Nathan McCullum topscoring with an unbeaten 36 off 39 balls and skipper Daniel Vettori making 27 off 24.

- NZPA