Arnold leads Sri Lanka to five-wicket win

Arnold leads Sri Lanka to five-wicket win

COLOMBO (Reuters): Russel Arnold struck a timely unbeaten 91 to spur Sri Lanka to a five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the triangular one-day series on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka slumped to 27 for four in pursuit of a target of 237 in 50 overs but Arnold and Marvan Atapattu (66) tilted the balance in a 110-run stand for the fifth wicket.

With 37 needed from the last five overs, Arnold found an effectively ally in Suresh Perera, who hammered 56 off 51 deliveries to secure success with nine balls to spare.

The match, the fourth of a triangular series also involving India, was being played under increased security a day after a Tamil Tigers' suicide attack killed 20 people and destroyed airliners at Colombo's international airport.

Sri Lanka's win was its third in as many games, keeping it top of the standings with six points. New Zealand has two points from three games and India is without a point after two matches.

New Zealand paceman Kyle Mills had plunged Sri Lanka into early trouble with two wickets in quick succession.

Mills removed skipper Sanath Jayasuriya for five with his third ball, trapping the batsman lbw with a delivery that straightened after pitching on leg stump.

He stuck again three balls later when wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwithrana, promoted to number three, was out for nought when he edged an awayswinger to wicketkeeper Adam Parore, making Sri Lanka five for two.

Fast bowler Daryl Tuffey got opener Avishka Gunawardene (5) when Chris Harris plucked out a brilliant catch diving backwards and to his left at gully, and Mahela Jayawardene ran himself out without scoring while trying to steal a sharp single.

However, Atapattu hit seven fours in his 33rd one-day 50 before he was run out and Arnold hammered seven boundaries in his 11th half-century to take the match away from New Zealand's grasp.

Perera struck six fours in his rapid half-century, his first in one-day internationals.