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CHRISTCHURCH - Michael Mason steered New Zealand to a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in cricket's equivalent of a B-grade movie yesterday, raising more questions about the integrity of the rotation system.
On a cold, grey and wet Canterbury day, in which the spectators should have been paid for showing up, they were instead forced to endure the sight of Sri Lanka's understrength combination stumbling to a record-low score against a weakened New Zealand line-up.
With Mason playing the part of chief benefactor, a Sri Lankan side resting bowling stars Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga were rolled for just 112 in 35.2 overs; a total New Zealand's experimental side only just managed to overhaul.
Mason, who gave his World Cup chances a handy boost with career-best figures of four for 24, tore the heart out of the innings with the successive wickets of Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Upal Tharanga, and Chamara Silva.
In a match reduced to 46 overs a side because of frequent rain interruptions, Sri Lanka's total of 112 was adjusted back to 109 under the Duckworth-Lewis projections, a reduction that came as a relief to New Zealand, as well as most in the crowd.
New Zealand rested Shane Bond for the first two matches and still had Stephen Fleming on approved leave yesterday, on the basis that the opportunity created room to trail other players and develop a more capable squad.
The word from the Sri Lankan camp was that their decision to experiment with Ruchira Perera and Dilhara Fernando was based on the fact that New Zealand were not selecting a full-strength side, and therefore a precedent had been set.
But it was still cold comfort for supporters at the ground, most of whom were wearing their rugs rather than sitting on them, as New Zealand limped through to a 2-1 series lead, scoring the winning runs with 21.3 overs to spare.
The chase started in ominous fashion for the hosts when Nathan Astle dragged a ball on to his stumps in the first over, and only got worse as Ross Taylor left to a dubious Tillakaratne Dilshan catch in the second over, and Brendon McCullum self-destructed in the fourth.
Daniel Vettori's trial at No 5 continued to falter when he miscued a hook off Fernando in the ninth over and when the Marshall twins - James and Marshall - were dismissed for a total of nine runs, New Zealand had slumped to 70 for six in the 15th over.
The task of bringing home the bacon fell to Peter Fulton, who scrapped well for his 43, and to James Franklin, who again proved his mettle as a batsman with another life-saving innings, this one worth 15 unbeaten runs. New Zealand could be well pleased. The Bond-led attack found immediate pay-dirt in the cold and mist, and the fielding was of the highest level seen for years.
Wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum dived full-length to dismiss Upal Tharanga off Mason, made light work of the difficult run-out of Tillakaratne Dilshan, and snaffled an equally tough bottom-edge off the bat of Farveez Maharoof. There were high-quality support acts; from Vettori, who ran out Mahela Jayawardene with a direct hit, and James Marshall, whose diving stop led to Dilshan's dismissal.
New Zealand will wait until this morning to name their side for Saturday's fourth ODI at Eden Park.
