New Zealand beats Sri Lanka by 35 runs in T20

Allrounders Doug Bracewell and Scott Kuggeleijn joined forces to lead New Zealand to a 35-run win over Sri Lanka in a one-off Twenty20 on Friday and a clean sweep of the tourists across all formats.

Bracewell made 44 from 26 balls and Kuggeleijn, on debut, hit an unbeaten 35 from 15 as New Zealand rallied from 55-5 after 10 overs to make 179-7 batting first.

Kuggeleijn then took 1-26, Bracewell 1-19, and both held two catches as New Zealand bowled out Sri Lanka for 144 in 16.5 overs.

New Zealand's Doug Bracewell bats during their twenty20 cricket international at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. (AP PhotoDavid Rowland)

Paceman Lockie Ferguson took 3-31 and legspinner Ish Sodhi 3-30 as New Zealand pulled back Sri Lanka which was well ahead of the run rate for much of its chase.

New Zealand previously beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in a two-test series and 3-0 in a three-match one-day international series.

Kuggeleijn, who followed his father Chris as a New Zealand player, and Bracewell, also the son of a former international — fast bowler Brendon — both emerged as genuine allrounders in limited-overs cricket with their performances on Friday.

New Zealand's captain Tim Southee bats against Sri Lanka during their twenty20 cricket international at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. (AP PhotoDavid Rowland)

New Zealand made a poor start after losing the toss and being sent in, losing Martin Guptill (1) in the first over, Tim Seifert (2) in the second, Henry Nicholls (4) in the third and Colin Munro (16) in the fourth to be 27-4.

Veteran Lasith Malinga, in possibly his last match in New Zealand, and youngster Kasun Rajitha both took two wickets in their opening spells.

When Mitchell Santner was out for 13 in the 10th over, New Zealand was 55-5 at the midpoint of its innings.

Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva is bowled out by New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson for 10 runs during their twenty20 cricket international at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. (AP PhotoDavid Rowland)

A competitive total seemed unlikely as the New Zealand batsmen struggled on a drop-in pitch which offered good bounce and on which the slower ball was often effective.

But Ross Taylor (33) put on 47 with Bracewell in a sixth-wicket stand, which helped to repair the innings, then Bracewell took charge with a bright innings which included one four and five sixes in his first match for New Zealand in a year.

"I got going with (Taylor) and managed to get a few away, and then (Kuggeleijn) on debut was outstanding," Bracewell said.

Sri Lanka's Thisara Perera bats watched by New Zealand's Wicketkeeper Tim Seifert during their twenty20 cricket international at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. (AP PhotoDavid Rowland)

"The boys all sort of chipped in with a few wickets there."

Kuggeleijn joined Bracewell and hit 35, which included one four and four sixes, in a partnership of 41. He added a further 36 with Tim Southee (13) to lift New Zealand to a total which was close to par on Eden Park.

Sri Lanka made a blazing start to its reply with Niroshan Dickwella hitting a four and six from the first two balls of its innings. He blasted Sri Lanka to 29-1 after only two overs.

New Zealand's Scott Kuggeleijn bowls during their twenty20 cricket international at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. (AP PhotoDavid Rowland)

The tourists remained well ahead of New Zealand's run curve, reaching 52-3 after five overs and 95-4 after 10.

Big-hitting Thisara Perera looked likely to lead Sri Lanka to victory as he raced to 43 from 24 balls with two fours and three sixes. He worked well in partnerships with Kusal Mendis and Dhanajaya de Silva.

But Ferguson returned to dismiss Perera and de Silva in one over and Sri Lanka's effort petered out.

"I thought we did really well in the bowling part, but in the last overs we gave away a few too many runs," Malinga said. "I still feel that in the batting part we didn't understand how to win the game."

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PARIS (AP) — Lens has gone from surprise front runner to serious title contender in Ligue 1.

Despite having modest resources, coach Pierre Sage has done remarkably well to keep his side ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.

Cash-rich PSG clinched a record-extending 13th league title last season while Lens won its only title in 1998. But Lens pushed PSG close in 2022-23 and finished runner-up by one point.

Lens is one point ahead of PSG this season and eight clear of third-place Marseille going into this weekend's 18th round.

Sage’s side will be confident of a club record-extending 10th straight win in all competitions when it hosts next-to-last Auxerre on Saturday.

Excellent teamwork and a strong defense are hallmarks of Lens which has five clean sheets in the past nine games.

PSG has a tricky home match against fourth-placed Lille on Friday at Parc des Princes, just days after being knocked out of the French Cup at home by capital city rival Paris FC.

Inconsistent Marseille is at mid-table Angers on Saturday and can ill afford to drop any points with Lille level on points.

Erratic Monaco has tumbled to mid-table and needs to bounce back with a home win against Lorient on Friday.

Lyon fans will be hoping to see Brazil forward Endrick in action at home to Brest on Sunday.

Endrick is on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season and scored on his club debut in the French Cup on Sunday.

After missing 14 games due to a shoulder injury, Marseille forward Amine Gouiri is finding form. He scored twice and provided one assist in a 9-0 French Cup win on Tuesday.

Nantes has earned a reputation for having a strong youth academy and Tylel Tati is the latest product. The 17-year-old central defender looked assured in a 2-0 win at Marseille and looks set to feature at home to Paris FC on Sunday.

Paris FC forward Jonathan Ikoné's neat finish knocked titleholder PSG — his former club — out of the French Cup. Ikoné has yet to score in the league.

Paul Pogba's move to Monaco is not working out as hoped and the former France midfield star remains sidelined by a calf injury.

The 2018 World Cup winner has also dealt with thigh and ankle problems since joining the club in the offseason, after more than two years out of the game in a career derailed by injuries, off-field problems and a doping ban.

Pogba hoped to relaunch his career in time to make France's squad for the World Cup but has so far played only 30 minutes in three substitute appearances.

Monaco's long injury list includes defender Mohammed Salisu (ACL), winger Ansu Fati (hamstring), goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky (knee) and winger Takumi Minamino (ACL).

Forwards Jérémie Boga and Terem Moffi are reportedly trying to terminate their contracts with Nice after being attacked by their own supporters following a game on Nov. 30.

After a 3-1 defeat at Lorient made it six straight losses, Nice players were confronted by a large number of angry Nice fans when they returned to the club’s training and academy center.

Boga and Moffi took blows to the head and groin and have since been on medical leave. According to sports daily L'Équipe, their case is being examined by the French league legal committee.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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