1 May 2010

Man-of-the-match Nathan McCullum saves Black Caps

11:18 am on 1 May 2010

The New Zealand cricketers have pulled off a dramatic last-over victory against Sri Lanka in Guyana, winning the opening match of the Twenty20 World Cup by two wickets.

All rounder Nathan McCullum won the game by hitting paceman Lasith Malinga for six over long off on the penultimate ball.

New Zealand needed 20 off the last two overs, chasing Sri Lanka's 135 for six on a slow track which included an outstanding 81 from opener Mahela Jayawardene.

Before man-of-the-match McCullum's heroics with the bat, only Jesse Ryder really fired for the Black Caps with a 42.

McCullum also took three catches in the deep, including two in the final over of Sri Lanka's innings.

The Otago player caught a big hit from Jayawardene on the rope off Tim Southee to remove the Sri Lankan star, then followed it up at the death with the wicket of Chamara Kapugedera off Shane Bond and Angelo Matthews for three on the final ball.