ICC Cricket, Cricket Live Scores, Latest Sports News, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and in-form Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan have each been nominated in three categories for this year's International Cricket Council (ICC) awards.

Dhoni has an opportunity to pick up a second consecutive one-day international player of the year award, and also features in the cricketer and test player categories in the list of nominations released by the sport's governing body on Wednesday.

Dilshan has been named among the nominees for the cricketer, test player and Twenty20 international performance of the year.

The nominations were compiled by a five-man panel chaired by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd with performances during the period from Aug. 13, 2008 to Aug. 24 this year taken into consideration, the ICC said.

Awards will also be handed out to the emerging player, women's cricketer and umpire of the year, and will be presented in Johannesburg on Oct. 1.

The test and ODI teams of the year will also be selected and an award to the team that has adhered most to the spirit of cricket will also be named.

New Zealand snatched a dramatic three-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka restricted New Zealand to 141 for eight and looked to be cruising to victory when opener Tillakaratne Dilshan blazed 57 from 28 balls including eight fours and two sixes.

However, the tourists engineered a sudden batting collapse with all-rounder Jacob Oram claiming figures of three for 33 from his four overs.

Captain Daniel Vettori was also instrumental with a miserly spell of spin bowling in the middle stages of the run chase, taking two for 11 from four overs.

"To lose the game after Dilshan's knock was inexcusable," Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara told reporters.

"It was a great pitch but we lost too many wickets and were not able to build the kind of partnerships you need," he added.

Earlier, Ross Taylor top-scored for New Zealand with a stylish 60 from 45 balls including five fours and a six.

Martin Guptill provided support with 29, the pair adding 53 runs for the third wicket.

Pace bowler Lasith Malinga claimed two for 21 and was the most successful Sri Lanka bowler.

The second and final T20 match takes place on Friday.

Scoreboard at the end of the first Twenty20 International between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by three runs.

New Zealand innings

B. McCullum run out 9

J. Ryder c Bandara b Kulasekara 13

M. Guptill c Kapugedera b Bandara 29

R. Taylor c Kulasekara b Mathews 60

J. Oram c Kulasekara b Mendis 8

N. Broom not out 5

P. McGlashan run out 1

K. Mills b Malinga 7

D. Vettori b Malinga 0

I. Butler not out 0

Extras (b-3, lb-3, w-3) 9

Total (eight wickets, 20 overs) 141

Fall of wickets: 1-14 2-26 3-79 4-117 5-126 6-127 7-136 8-136

Bowling: Kulasekara 4-0-21-1, Malinga 4-0-21-2 (w1), Mathews 2-0-19-1, Mendis 4-0-25-1, Bandara 4-0-25-1 (w1), Jayasuriya

2-0-24-0 (w1)

Did not bat: Shane Bond

Sri Lanka innings

T. Dilshan c Ryder b Butler 57

S. Jayasuriya c Bond b Mills 1

M. Jayawardene run out 3

K. Sangakkara c McCullum b Vettori 13

G. Rupasinghe lbw b Vettori 15

C. Kapugedera b Butler 3

A. Mathews c & b Oram 21

N. Kulasekara c Broom b Oram 12

M. Bandara c B McCullum b Oram 7

L. Malinga not out 4

A. Mendis not out 0

Extras (lb-2) 2

Total (nine wickets; 20 overs) 138

Fall of wickets: 1-22 2-43 3-67 4-75 5-85 6-109 7-122 8-133 9-133

Bowling: Bond 4-0-27-0, Mills 4-0-36-1, Butler 4-0-29-2, Oram 4-0-33-3, Vettori 4-0-11-2.

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by three runs in the first twenty20 international on Wednesday.

Scores: New Zealand 141-8 in 20 overs (Taylor 60) v Sri Lanka 138-9 in 20 overs (Dilshan 57)