150/10 (29.4)
CR : 5.06
290/8 (50.0)
CR : 5.80
Sri Lanka won by 140 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Asitha Fernando
3/26
1:09 PM IST, 8:39 PM Local Time | That’s it!!!! Sri Lanka have managed to register their first ODI in New Zealand win since January 2015. It took them nearly a decade and 11 matches (out of which 2 ended in no-result) to get over the line on New Zealand soil. Sri Lanka defeat New Zealand by runs to write a new page in their history books!
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first, and on the back of half-centuries from Patthum Nissanka (66 runs off 42 balls), Kusal Mendis (54 runs off 48 balls) and Janith Liyanage (53 runs off 52 balls), Sri Lanka put up a strong batting performance to register 290/8 at the end of their 20 overs.
Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand, as their premier pacer registered the figures of 4/55 from his 10 overs.
Come the chase, Sri Lanka came out all guns blazing and left New Zealand shellshocked with some brilliant bowling! Maheesh Theekshana opened up the floodgates in the second over of the chase with the wicket of Will Young.
Asitha Fernando found swing and his mojo, as after Young's dismissal, the Lankan pacer went on a rampage to pick up 3 wickets in a short space of time as New Zealand found themselves reeling at 21/5 after 6.2 overs. The Kiwis never recovered after that, and it was a question of when rather than if for a Lankan victory.
Post Asitha's carnage, Theekshana and Malinga sprung to life to dismantle the Kiwi batting order. Asitha Fernando registered 3/26 from his 7 overs. Maheesh Theekshana ended up with 3/35 from 7.4 overs and Eshan Malinga added to his tally with 3/35 from his 7 overs. Liyanage picked up the solitary wicket of Michael Bracewell.
However, kudos are in order for Mark Chapman. The Kiwi Southpaw scored an unbeaten 81 runs off 81 balls and held up one end to make Sri Lanka work for their wickets.
In the end, Sri Lanka break their drought in New Zealand but the Kiwis won the war with a 2-1 series victory in ODIs!
Post Asitha's carnage, Theekshana and Malinga sprung to life to dismantle the Kiwi batting order. Asitha Fernando registered 3/26 from his 7 overs. Maheesh Theekshana ended up with 3/35 from 7.4 overs and Eshan Malinga added to his tally with 3/35 from his 7 overs. Liyanage picked up the solitary wicket of Michael Bracewell.
However, kudos are in order for Mark Chapman. The Kiwi Southpaw scored an unbeaten 81 runs off 81 balls and held up one end to make Sri Lanka work for their wickets.
In the end, Sri Lanka break their drought in New Zealand but the Kiwis won the war with a 2-1 series victory in ODIs!
Time for the post-match presentation ceremony..
Player of the Match: Asitha Fernando
Asitha Fernando (POTM): "It is a huge confidence boost. Didn't do well in the first two games but it is a pleasure to play like this here.
We identified areas where we can improve and we will go back and work on those to get better day by day."
We identified areas where we can improve and we will go back and work on those to get better day by day."
Player of the series: Matt Henry
Matt Henry (Player of the series): "It was a special moment, not happy that we did not win today but it was a good series and with Champions Trophy in mind, it was good preparation. We have done a lot of positives in this series and we will make sure we take it ahead."
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain): "I think it is always great to have a comeback like this. Unfortunately, we lost both the series in first two games. Was a special effort from the boys today, feeling really good.
Definitely, yes. In this kind of setting, we should have different plans. They put us under pressure, played well. This is the time to improve."
Definitely, yes. In this kind of setting, we should have different plans. They put us under pressure, played well. This is the time to improve."
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand Captain): "Disappointing performance and not the way we wanted to finish the series. Credit to Sri Lanka for the way they bowled, and will look to now comeback against Australia.
Since they got the ball swinging, they made it challenging for us, they took their catches. We will take it on the chin but there's still a lot positives going forward with guys performing well. It feels good, it would be nice to continue. The lads performed very well in the series but a couple of work-ons after today and we got Pakistan with changing conditions as well."
Since they got the ball swinging, they made it challenging for us, they took their catches. We will take it on the chin but there's still a lot positives going forward with guys performing well. It feels good, it would be nice to continue. The lads performed very well in the series but a couple of work-ons after today and we got Pakistan with changing conditions as well."
Mitchell Santner gets the trophy and poses with the team as New Zealand celebrate another series win over Sri Lanka at home.
And that's a wrap of our coverage of Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand. Charith Asalanka's men managed only two wins across six games and lost both T20I and ODI series. Sri Lanka won't be a part of the upcoming Champions Trophy and they have a lot of time to fine tune things to get back to their best.
This is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues Anirudh Modi, Deepak Prakash, and Yogesh Kumar. Goodbye!!!!
This is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues Anirudh Modi, Deepak Prakash, and Yogesh Kumar. Goodbye!!!!