It is not hard to see why One-Day Internationals are steadily approaching their sell-by date.
The first match of the tri-series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Colombo did nothing to ally fears about the growing disinterest in ODIs or attracting more fans.
In a low scoring encounter, at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Tuesday, Sri Lanka, courtesy Lasith Malinga's blistering display with the ball, outclassed New Zealand by 97 runs on a slow and dead pitch.
Chasing Sri Lanka's modest 216 for seven, New Zealand were never in the hunt and folded for 119 in 36.1 overs, with Malinga claiming four for 28.
Earlier, Thilan Samaraweera scored a brilliant 104 and Angelo Mathews chipped in with a useful knock of 51 as Sri Lanka overcame a bad start to post a healthy total.
Shane Bond, playing international cricket after a gap of more than two years, was New Zealand's best bowler, claiming three for 43.
Sri Lanka:
Daryl Tuffey made a comeback to the New Zealand ODI squad after a gap of more than two years, having last played in the 2007 World Cup after which he opted to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League.
Tuffey struck in his very first over when he had the wicket of the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan, bowled off an inside edge for 4. (4-1, 1)
Another former ICL recruit, Shane Bond, playing for the Kiwis after more than two years, also struck in his first over. Mahela Jayawardene tried to guide one outside the off-stump to the third man region but the extra bounce beat him, and he could only guide it straight to Ross Taylor at first slip. He was out for a two-ball duck. (5-2, 1.4)
With the Kiwi opening bowlers not letting the Sri Lankan batsmen break free, it was just a matter of time before something gave way. A frustrated Sanath Jayasuriya tried to break the shackles but his upper cut off Bond ended straight into Ian Butler's hand at the third man region, after scoring 7 from 20 deliveries. (22-3, 7.4)
In his first international game after more than two years Bond showed he had lost none of his magic. He took two for nine in his first five overs, including two maidens in his first spell, as Sri Lanka struggled to 26 for three after 10 overs, with just two boundaries.
New Zealand continued to strangle the Lankan batsmen with some disciplined bowling, with just 12 runs coming off the next five overs as the hosts reached 38 for three after 15 overs.
Captain Kumar Sangakkara, after a painstaking knock of 18 from 47 deliveries, flicked Butler straight to Oram at square leg to further compound Sri Lanka's misery. (38-4, 15.4)
Thilina Kandamby and Thilan Samaraweera continued to struggle to accelerate the scoring as only singles were scored, with Sri Lanka reaching 68 for four at the halfway stage.
Kandamby's patience (15 from 31 deliveries) finally ran out as he danced down the track to Daniel Vettori but smashed him straight to the short midwicket fielder. (69-5, 25.3)
Samaraweera gave fans something to cheer about when he finally got a boundary in the 27th over off Bond, the first boundary for the hosts after 24 overs. The right-hander completed his half-century in the 35th over with a single down the ground off Nathan McCullum.
In the next over, he brought up the 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Angelo Mathews off 63 deliveries as Sri Lanka finally started to make some progress.
Samaraweera slammed Tuffey for two boundaries in the 41st over and Sri Lanka went past the 150-run mark.
It was interesting to see Sri Lanka choose to delay their batting Powerplay till as late as the 45th over, but the gamble did work as the hosts scored 38 runs between the 45th and 49th over.
Samaraweera thumped Butler for two boundaries through the cover region to bring up the 100-run partnership for the sixth wicket. He then followed it with another boundary through fine leg in the same over to move into the 90s.
Mathews brought up his half-century, his second in ODIs, off 58 deliveries with a single off Bond in the 48th over. He, however, fell in Bond's next over when he played inside the line but missed the ball and was bowled for a well-compiled knock of 51 from 60 deliveries, inclusive of four boundaries. (196-6, 47.5)
Mathews had played an important role in Sri Lanka's recovery, adding 127 runs in 134 deliveries for the sixth wicket with Samaraweera.
In the next over, Samaraweera brought up his maiden century in ODIs (off 122 deliveries) with a three through the off-side, courtesy of a misfiled. At 32 years and 251 days, Samaraweera becomes the oldest Sri Lankan to register a maiden century in ODIs, surpassing the record held former captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who was 31 when he got his maiden ODI ton.
His brilliant knock of 104 (124 deliveries, 10 boundaries) ended when he was bowled by Butler attempting the paddle through fine leg. (204-7, 48.5)
Nuwan Kulasekara ended the innings with a boundary as Sri Lanka posted a respectable 216 for seven in their 50 overs.
The last ten overs proved most productive for Sri Lanka as they amassed 72 runs for the loss of two wickets to give their bowlers something to work at.
The wicket is getting slower and slower and New Zealand will need a good start from their openers or else will face a tough task in the middle overs like the Lankans.
New Zealand
Thilan Thushara struck early when he trapped Jesse Ryder leg before wicket for a duck in the second over of the innings. (2-1, 1.2)
The Kiwi run chase suddenly hit a roadblock with hardly any runs coming off the opening overs. Nuwan Kulasekara then rocked New Zealand, claiming two wickets in the fifth over of the innings.
Martin Guptill scored 3 before he edged an outgoing delivery and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Sangakkara. (5-2, 4.1)
Four deliveries later, Ross Taylor was trapped leg before wicket for 2 after he missed an incoming delivery while attempting to hit through the leg side. (7-3, 4.5)
If Sri Lanka's start was disastrous, New Zealand's was even more horrible. The scoreboard read a pathetic 17 for three after 10 overs.
The last 10 games at this venue were won by teams batting first and this one looked heading the same way too, with the pitch getting slower and difficult for batting.
Brendon McCullum (11 from 39 deliveries) and Grant Elliott (7 from 32 deliveries), seemed intent on digging their own grave. The next five overs produced another seven runs as the Kiwis reached 24 for three after 15 overs, with only one boundary thus far.
Thushara did a splendid job in his first spell, claiming one for five in his six overs, while Kulasekara had two for 18 in his six.
But it was Malinga who took the stuffing out of New Zealand's batting, claiming three wickets in his fourth over, including both the McCullum brothers.
Brendon McCullum's misery ended when he was bowled by Malinga while attempting a huge heave across the line. The Kiwi wicketkeeper, known for his dashing batting, scored just 14 from 52 deliveries with a boundary to his credit, as his team plunged into further trouble. (37-4, 18.2)
Three balls later Malinga got the wicket of Oram, caught behind for four, Sangakkara completing a sharp low catch. (41-5, 18.5)
Nathan McCullum lasted just one delivery when he was beaten all ends up by the very next delivery -- a fast, full one -- from Malinga that disturbed his stumps. (41-6, 19)
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori tried to smash a Sanath Jayasuriya short delivery through the leg side but missed the ball completely and was trapped right in front of the stumps for 10. (76-7, 26.3)
Grant Elliott came up with a dogged knock of 41, New Zealand's best effort with the bat, before he became Jayasuriya's second victim.
Elliott stepped down the wicket but was beaten in the flight and bowled after his 76-ball knock that stretched two hours at the crease. (101-8, 32.1)
Butler then decided it was time for some entertainment as he slammed Jayasuriya straight down the ground for the first six of the match in the 35th over.
New Zealand's tail packed up rather quickly as Daryl Tuffey was stumped by Sangakkara off Mendis for 2. (116-9, 35.3)
Quite deservedly, Malinga finished things when he bowled Butler for 25 with a perfect yorker that crashed into the middle stump.
New Zealand were bundled out for 119 in 36.1 overs, giving Sri Lanka a huge 97-run victory and a bonus point along with it.
Malinga was Sri Lanka's star bowler with impressive figures of four for 28 in 6.1 overs despite bowling on a pitch that had nothing for the fast bowlers. The team batting first won for the 11th time in a row.
