Oram heroics stun Sri Lanka

Oram: hat-trick hero

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First Twenty20 International
Colombo
New Zealand 141-8 (L R P L Taylor 60) v Sri Lanka 138-9 (T M Dilshan 57)
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 3 runs

Jacob Oram took a hat-trick as New Zealand secured a three-run success over Sri Lanka in the first T20 international.

Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan slammed 57 off 28 deliveries to put the hosts well on course to reach a target of 142 at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Black Caps paceman Shane Bond made an unhappy return to the international arena following a two-year absence due to his participation in the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League. He took 0-27 from his four overs and was the subject of some rough treatment from Dilshan's flowing blade.

But Dilshan's dismissal, caught at backward point off Ian Butler's medium pace, reduced Sri Lanka to 75-4 after eight overs and the lower order capitulated against some disciplined bowling.

Oram's hat-trick - the second in a T20 international after Australia's Brett Lee - started with the last ball of the 17th over when Angelo Mathews (21) chipped a return catch to leave his side struggling on 122-7.

Skipper Daniel Vettori, who had gone for just 2-11 from his own four-over allocation, saved Oram's final over for the 20th of the innings.

The tactic worked a treat as the giant all-rounder removed Malinga Bandara and Nuwan Kulasekara.

Denied

With nine required from the final six deliveries, Bandara (7) and Kulasekara (12) holed out to long-off and long-on respectively as Oram (3-33) speared in a couple of low full tosses.

And last-wicket pair Lasith Malinga (4no) and Ajantha Mendis (0no) were only able to take five off the last four balls as Sri Lanka ended short on 138-9.

Earlier, Ross Taylor hit a fine 60 off 45 deliveries in New Zealand's total of 141-8 after Vettori had opted to bat first.

Taylor, batting at number four, arrived at the crease with the score on 26-2 after the early departures of Brendon McCullum (9) and Jesse Ryder (13).

He shared a 53-run stand with Martin Guptill (29) for the third wicket to repair the damage before a clatter of late wickets, including two in two balls for Malinga (2-21) in the final over.

The two-match series concludes at the same venue on Friday.