Cricket: Ryder goes out with a bang

Jesse Ryder's day against Sri Lanka was typical of his turbulent career. The opener hit a brave, match-defining 74 runs to set up New Zealand for a 38-run win at the Wanderers yesterday, but before the sun had set, Ryder was nursing an injury, smashing furniture and copping a fine.

Happily, the victory kept alive New Zealand's hopes of an International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy semifinals place.

But Ryder's day ended in frustration - his tournament over courtesy of a groin muscle pulled early in his innings.

The batsman's post-match celebrations were further muted when he was fined 15 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the ICC's code of conduct for breaking his bat over a chair following his dismissal in the 20th over.

After walking from the field, Ryder struck and broke a chair with his bat as he approached the dressing room.

Daniel Vettori's men go into their final group match against England tonight knowing victory will be enough to secure their progress.

Defeat would send them home, Sri Lanka going through by virtue of a better run rate.

Ryder hurt his left leg taking a sharp single at the end of the fifth over. He called for a runner and, perhaps sensing his stay at the crease could be limited by the injury, threw caution to the wind, hitting 10 fours and a six in his 58-ball stay. He reached his 50 off 28 balls, the fastest half-century in the tournament.

Ryder had to use a runner for the remainder of his knock, but his 125-run opening stand with Brendon McCullum was the perfect tonic for the Black Caps who would have been eliminated had they lost.

McCullum, playing a supporting role, contributed 46 off 72 balls.

New Zealand overcame a mid-innings blip that saw five wickets fall cheaply to reach 315-7 off 50 overs with Martin Guptill (66), skipper Daniel Vettori (48) and McCullum (46) other significant contributors.

Sri Lanka were all out for 277 off 46.4 overs in reply with the big early stands they needed never materialising and it was left to Mahela Jayawardene (77) to keep hopes flickering until he became the seventh wicket to fall.

Nuwan Kulasekara, ranked among the top fast bowlers in the world, proved he is no slouch with the bat either, hitting an unbeaten 57 off 56 balls, including four sixes and two fours.

It was a disappointing final mini-league outing for the Sri Lankans, who began with a bang last Tuesday by surprising hosts South Africa before suffering a six-wicket loss to England.

"It was a crucial win and it kept us alive in the tournament and that's the most important bit," Vettori said.

"But the manner of the win is something that will be pleasing to ourselves and also to our fans back home. To do it in such an important game is very satisfying."

The Kiwi skipper saluted the efforts of his opening batsmen.

"The way Ryder and McCullum gave us a great start put the dressing room in good shape," said Vettori. "We carried the momentum all the way through."

Vettori has repeatedly stressed the need for good partnerships and his wish was realised by Ryder, who hit 10 fours and a six before edging Kulasekara to skipper Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps.

His departure triggered a collapse with the Kiwis slipping to 161-5 before Guptill and Vettori regained the initiative on a scorching day in the South African financial capital.

Vettori averaged more than a run a ball before becoming the third victim of 40-year-old Sanath Jayasuriya, whose slow left-arm deliveries brought three wickets and caused the Black Caps' batsmen most discomfort.

Guptill was bowled by Lasith Malinga and James Franklin, rushed from English county championship duty with Gloucestershire to replace injured Jacob Oram, contributed an unbeaten 28 off 21 balls as the Sri Lankan sting evaporated. Kyle Mills dashed 18 not out off six as the New Zealanders scored 61 runs in the last five overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) mistimed a pull to deep square leg where substitute Jeetan Patel took the catch and the poor batting form of fellow opener Jayasuriya (24) continued as his pull took a top edge to midwicket.

Sangakkara made only 11 before edging to first slip and Thilan Samaraweera (17) fared little better before a cut to backward point was snapped up by Neil Broom.

At 123-4 after 20 overs Sri Lanka were in trouble and the run-out of Thilina Kandamby (11) and cheap exit of Angelo Mathews (two) after a clumsy shot confirmed that the game and the tournament were slipping from their grasp.

Jayawardene offered a glimmer of hope as he dug in with Kulasekara, but his wicket was snapped when foxed by a quicker Vettori delivery and the ball sent the off-stump flying.

Allrounder Franklin contributed smartly with the ball to finish with figures of two for 40 off nine overs. "Our fielding, at times, has been appalling and not of international standard," captain Sangakkara said.

"The lengths we bowled were not right. We have to go back to basics and start to hit our areas with aggression as opposed to just putting the ball on a spot."

ICC match referee Javagal Srinath was damning of Ryder's chair-busting antics. "This sort of behaviour is entirely inappropriate for any player.

"It is understandable that Jesse felt disappointment following his dismissal, especially given the fact that he had sustained an injury during his innings and knew he would probably be out of action for a considerable time as a result. But he must maintain a certain level of self-control and clearly Jesse's actions went beyond what would be deemed acceptable."

Ryder pleaded guilty to the offence and apologised at the hearing.

Vettori said Ryder's groin strain was an aggravation of an old injury.

"He's had it for a long time, this injury. It repaired itself but he did it all over again today.

"It's very sad for him and I don't think it is a good prognosis."

New Zealand have asked to bring in Aaron Redmond, a top-order batsman who can bowl legspin, to replace Ryder for the remainder of the tournament.

- NZPA, AGENCIES