Lasith Malinga took the 22 yards out of the equation in a low-scoring thriller, but New Zealand survived him to chronicle their first win above Sri Lanka in four years. The pitch has scarcely yet mattered less. It was flat, the sun was out, the ball was not swinging, but Lasith Malinga's dipping slower full tosses had New Zealand batsmen hopping and hoping in what was predictable to be an afternoon stroll. Nathan McCullum, first, and then Tim Southee batted with just the adulthood New Zealand very much needed to see them through with one wicket in hand.
The chase swung spectacularly. From coasting at 48 for 1 New Zealand stumbled to 49 for 4. From 70 for 4 they fell to 80 for 6, but then, fatefully, they were allowed to get away with a comparatively quieter phase when Lasith Malinga was taken off and brought reverse only after brothers McCullum had taken off 31 off the requirement. Lasith Malinga came back and seemed like he could strike with every ball, but Sri Lanka will be left asking themselves - particularly for the reason that Lasith Malinga brought them so close - if they had kept Malinga's four over’s back for too long.
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