Sri Lanka scored 224-7 against a much-improved New Zealand bowling attack in the second ODI at Queenstown on Sunday.
SYDNEY: Tailender Michael Mason hit the last ball of the match for four to give New Zealand a thrilling one-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their second limited-overs international at Queenstown on Sunday.
Mason drove Sri Lankan spinner Sanath Jayasuriya over his head for a boundary to help New Zealand finish with 228 for nine in reply to Sri Lanka's 224-7 as the home side squared the five-match series.
New Zealand needed just one run off the final over but with James Franklin unbeaten on 45 at the non-striker's end, Mason was left with the responsibility.
The number 11 batsmen failed to score off the first five balls from Jayasuriya, including a gifted waist-high full toss outside off-stump, before dancing down the pitch and chancing his arm off the last delivery.
New Zealand always looked to have the match in control until a late stutter with the bat. They restricted the visitors to 224-7 despite a fine 89 off 122 balls from Kumar Sangakkara, 31 from Chamara Silva and 29 from Farveez Maharoof.
James Marshall (50) and Brendon McCullum (32) provided New Zealand with the perfect platform to chase victory with an opening stand of 57 before Muttiah Muralitharan struck three times.
The Sri Lankan off spinner trapped Peter Fulton lbw for two, had Craig McMillan caught for the same score then trapped Andre Adams lbw for six to leave New Zealand in deep trouble.
Franklin, 26, came in with the score on 141-6 and began cautiously until he was forced to take on the senior role once the last recognised batsman had gone.
Franklin, who has a Test century to his credit but had never made more than 29 in his 45 previous one-day-internationals, batted with the perfect mixture of poise and aggression to get his team across the line.
Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the series opener in Napier on Thursday. The third match is in Christchurch on Tuesday.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka Innings
Upul Tharanga c Taylor b Mason 23
Sanath Jayasuriya b Mason 1
Mahela Jayawardene b Gillespie 4
Kumar Sangakkara run out 89
Marvan Atapattu b Vettori 22
Chamara Silva c H.Marshall b Franklin 31
Tallakaratne Dilshan c Taylor b Gillespie 8
Farveez Maharoof not out 29
Chaminda Vaas not out 9
Extras: (3lb, 4w, 1nb) 8
Total: (for seven wickets in 50 overs) 224
Fall of wickets: 1 4, 2 14, 3 50, 4 102, 5 176, 6 177, 7 192
Bowling: Mark Gillespie 10 0 46 2 (3w, 1nb), Michael Mason 10 1 50 2 (1w), James Franklin 10 0 46 1, Andre Adams 10 0 42 0, Daniel Vettori 10 0 37 1
New Zealand Innings
James Marshall run out 50
Brendon McCullum lbw b Maharoof 32
Ross Taylor run out 15
Peter Fulton lbw b Muralitharan 2
Daniel Vettori b Malinga 19
Craig McMillan c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 2
Hamish Marshall c and b Dilshan 29
James Franklin not out 45
Andre Adams lbw b Muralitharan 6
Mark Gillespie c Maharoof b Vaas 11
Michael Mason not out 4
Extras: (5lb, 4w, 4nb) 13
Total: (for nine wickets) 228
Fall of wickets: 1 57, 2 87, 3 91, 4 121, 5 126, 6 141, 7 175, 8 194, 9 223
Bowling:
Chaminda Vaas 10 0 46 1 (1w)
Lasith Malinga 10 0 53 1 (3nb, 1w)
Farveez Maharoof 8 0 40 1 (1nb)
Muttiah Muralitharan 10 1 31 3 (1w)
Sanath Jayasuriya 5 0 28 0 (1w)
Tillakaratne Dilshan 7 0 25 1
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