Photo Gallery

MAHESH ABEYEWARDENE / THE SRI LANKA REPORTER

Brendon McCullum plays a scoop shot over Kumar Sangakkara for four runs.

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MAHESH ABEYEWARDENE / THE SRI LANKA REPORTER

American cheerleaders were kept busy as wickets fell regularly.

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MAHESH ABEYEWARDENE / THE SRI LANKA REPORTER

Angelo Matthews appeals against Ross Taylor.

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MAHESH ABEYEWARDENE / THE SRI LANKA REPORTER

Lasith Malinga attempts to run out Rob Nicol.

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MAHESH ABEYEWARDENE / THE SRI LANKA REPORTER

Thissera Perera bowls with a giant U.S. flag in the background from the nearby Swap Shop, home to the largest flea market and drive-in theatre in the world.

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MAHESH ABEYEWARDENE / THE SRI LANKA REPORTER

Ajantha Mendis grabbed two wickets.

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MAHESH ABEYEWARDENE / THE SRI LANKA REPORTER

Daniel Vettori stitched a crucial partnership with Ross Taylor.

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MAHESH ABEYEWARDENE / THE SRI LANKA REPORTER

Sri Lankan fans were jubliant as the Kiwis were restricted to 120 runs.

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MAHESH ABEYEWARDENE / THE SRI LANKA REPORTER

Jacob Oram takes a catch off the bowling of Scott Styris to end Angelo Matthew's resistance.

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 New Zealand won the first international match played on US soil in emphatic fashion against Sri Lanka. Ross Taylor (27) strung together a crucial partnership with his skipper Daniel Vettori (21 not out) to insure Kiwi bowlers a decent total to protect on a slow pitch.

 Earlier Brendon McCullum gave the Black Caps a promising start after hitting the first four and six. Sri Lankan seam-bowler Nuwan Kulasekera was also keen to have his name etched in history books and removed the Kiwi wicketkeeper after being struck for successive boundaries.

 As Vettori and Taylor worked hard for runs, spectators were entertained by cheerleaders, clowns and bands creating a unique American cricketing experience at Lauderhill, Florida. Fans sporting jerseys from major cricketing nations were represented in the stands and grassy banks for the historic occasion. They were buoyant to see high-caliber international cricket in the heartland of baseball country, cheering for every boundary scored and wicket that fell.

 Too many wickets cost Sri Lanka and skipper Kumar Sangakkara admitted that an over-zealous approach by his team’s batsmen led to the dramatic collapse. Kiwi all rounder Scott Styris was awarded the Man of the Match for excellent bowling figures of 3 for 10.