50 overs New Zealand 218 for 8 (Oram 45*, Nevin 45, Muralitharan 5-9) beat Sri Lanka 207 all out (Atapattu 61, Styris 3-42) by 11 runs
scorecard

New Zealand overcame a devastating spell from Muttiah Muralitharan to beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs in the second match of the Sharjah Cup.

Muralitharan produced an amazing spell of 10-3-9-5, as New Zealand were restricted to 218 for 8 after winning the toss and batting first.

But they fought back in the field and dismissed Sri Lanka for 207 in 49.1 overs, despite a horrific butter-fingered display by wicketkeeper Chris Nevin.

Nevin, who deputised for Adam Parore in the one-day series and is now first-choice following Parore's retirement, dropped Marvan Atapattu three times, and missed a run out, but Daryl Tuffey took three catches and Scott Styris claimed three wickets to fashion a remarkable win.

Atapattu made the most of Nevin's generosity, scoring 61, but he found no support at the other end as Sri Lanka's last five wickets crashed for 34 runs.

New Zealand won despite injuries to four key bowlers, including Chris Cairns and Shane Bond.

The victory, however, came at a price as captain Stephen Fleming hurt his fingers while trying to take another catch off Atapattu and was forced to leave the field.

Fleming is, however, expected to play when New Zealand take on Pakistan on Thursday.

"It was great teamwork," said stand-in captain Craig McMillan. "Having been bowled out for such a low score, we had to pick up wickets and that is just what we did."

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya blamed his team's batsmen for the defeat.

"After Murali's great performance all it needed for us was to bat sensibly, but were unable to do it," he said. "It is obvious there won't be easy games in this tournament."

Sri Lanka, who beat Pakistan by 41 runs in the first match on Monday, lost Jayasuriya in the third over. He had hit 87 off 78 balls against Pakistan, but this time fell to a catch at point off Tuffey for 1 (7 for 1).

Atapattu, who came in next, should have gone without scoring in the same over, but Nevin spilled the low catch and then reprieved him again on 47 and 58.

Atapattu put on 49 for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara and 69 for the third with Mahela Jayawardena, before the rot set in.

Muralitharan's devastation in the first session had reduced New Zealand to 159-7 before Man of the Match Jacob Oram boosted the total, smashing an unbeaten 46 off 33 balls, with five fours and two sixes.

The man of the moment, Nathan Astle, fell seventh-ball for 1 (6 for 1), caught behind off a lifter from Nuwan Zoysa, and New Zealand were never allowed to settle in.

Zoysa also removed McMillan for 6, hooking down fine leg's throat, before Nevin and Fleming added 55 for the third wicket.

The partnership prospered … until Muralitharan came on to bowl in the 16th over.

He took two wickets in his first three overs without conceding a run and then added another in his fourth as the Kiwis slipped from 86-2 to 99-5.

Matthew Sinclair and Chris Harris put on 56 for the sixth wicket, as Murali took a breather, but when he returned, both batsmen fell in successive overs.

New Zealand 1 Nathan Astle, 2 Chris Nevin (wk), 3 Craig McMillan, 4 Stephen Fleming (capt), 5 Chris Harris, 6 Matt Sinclair, 7 Scott Styris, 8 Jacob Oram, 9 James Franklin, 10 Daryl Tuffey, 11 Ian Butler.

Sri Lanka 1 Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), 2 Kumar Sangakkara, 3 Marvan Atapattu, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Russel Arnold, 6 Romesh Kaluwitharana, 7 Upal Chandana, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Nuwan Zoysa, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Charitha Buddika.

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