A collective team effort helped Sri Lanka secure a consolation win—their first in New Zealand since 2015—by a massive 140 runs in the third and final ODI today (11th) at Eden Park in Auckland. However, New Zealand claimed the series 2-1.
After a couple of poor batting performances by Sri Lanka’s top order in the first two ODIs, which cost them the series, openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando provided a good start this time, scoring 63 runs inside the first powerplay. Nissanka, in particular, was in a brutal mode, playing some superb strokes.
Nissanka reached his 16th ODI fifty off just 31 balls, but unfortunately, he appeared to suffer a groin injury while completing a single and had to retire hurt. Fernando, on the other hand, never looked comfortable and was dismissed after a 33-ball 17.
The two Mendis’s, Kusal and Kamindu, then came together to rebuild the innings with a superb partnership. After seven poor outings in New Zealand, Kusal finally found some form, reaching his 33rd half-century in 43 balls as Sri Lanka crossed the 150-run mark at the start of the 27th over.
However, Kusal couldn’t convert his start into a big score, falling to New Zealand skipper for the fifth time in international cricket. Their partnership of 87 off 98 balls ended, and Sri Lanka soon lost Charith Asalanka for a five-ball duck, continuing his struggles away from home. Shortly after, Kamindu was dismissed just four runs short of his fifty, leaving Sri Lanka at 183/4 in the 34th over.
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Nissanka returned to the crease despite his injury, though he continued to struggle while running between the wickets. He hit three boundaries, including a six, in quick succession but eventually holed out to deep mid-wicket, ending an entertaining knock of 66 off just 42 balls, which included 6 fours and 5 sixes.
Janith Liyanage and Chamindu Wickramasinghe then added 44 valuable runs in 50 balls. However, the young Wickramasinghe struggled for fluency and was dismissed after a 31-ball 19. Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with a quick cameo, but it was Liyanage’s crucial half-century that pushed Sri Lanka closer to the 300-run mark.
Matt Henry was the standout bowler for New Zealand, taking 4 for 55 in his 10 overs and reaching 150 ODI wickets in the process. Mitchell Santner claimed two wickets, while Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith chipped in with one wicket each.
Defending 290, Sri Lankan bowlers were on fire with the new ball, reducing the hosts to 21 for 5. The early damage included three ducks by Will Young, Tom Latham, and Glenn Phillips. The fielders complemented the bowlers brilliantly, taking some outstanding catches.
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Mark Chapman fought hard with valuable contributions from the lower order. He brought up a 46-ball fifty and shared the highest partnership of the innings with Nathan Smith, adding 51 runs for the 8th wicket.
Chapman helped New Zealand avoid a heavier defeat, with Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, and Matt Henry also reaching double figures. The left-hander scored a run-a-ball 81, including 10 fours and a six, before being dismissed as the final batter.
Asitha Fernando led the bowling attack with an exceptional new-ball spell, finishing with figures of 3 for 26. Eshan Malinga and Maheesh Theekshana also made significant contributions, each claiming three wickets.
Earlier, Sri Lanka opted to bat first on a good batting surface, sticking with an unchanged lineup. New Zealand, on the other hand, brought in Michael Bracewell to replace Jacob Duffy, who had been their standout performer throughout the white-ball series.
Playing XI:
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tom Latham (WK), Micheal Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (C), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, William O’Rourke
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Nathan Smith b Mitchell Santner | 66 | 42 | 6 | 5 | 157.14 |
| Avishka Fernando | c Mark Chapman b Nathan Smith | 17 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 51.52 |
| Kusal Mendis | c Michael Bracewell b Mitchell Santner | 54 | 48 | 5 | 2 | 112.50 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Tom Latham b Matt Henry | 46 | 71 | 2 | 3 | 64.79 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Matt Henry b Michael Bracewell | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Janith Liyanage | c Glenn Phillips b Matt Henry | 53 | 52 | 3 | 2 | 101.92 |
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | c Nathan Smith b Matt Henry | 19 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 61.29 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | b Matt Henry | 15 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 166.67 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | not out | 11 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 137.50 |
| Eshan Malinga | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 8 (b 0 , lb 4 , nb 0, w 4, pen 0) |
| Total | 290/8 (50 Overs, RR: 5.8) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 10 | 0 | 55 | 4 | 5.50 | |
| William O’Rourke | 10 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 5.70 | |
| Nathan Smith | 8 | 0 | 62 | 1 | 7.75 | |
| Mitchell Santner | 10 | 0 | 55 | 2 | 5.50 | |
| Michael Bracewell | 9 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 5.00 | |
| Glenn Phillips | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 4.00 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Young | c Asitha Fernando b Maheesh Theekshana | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Rachin Ravindra | b Asitha Fernando | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Mark Chapman | b Maheesh Theekshana | 81 | 81 | 10 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Daryl Mitchell | c Asitha Fernando b Eshan Malinga | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Tom Latham | c Wanindu Hasaranga b Asitha Fernando | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Glenn Phillips | c Kamindu Mendis b Asitha Fernando | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Michael Bracewell | c Kamindu Mendis b Janith Liyanage | 13 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 65.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | c Kamindu Mendis b Maheesh Theekshana | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 13.33 |
| Nathan Smith | c Kusal Mendis b Eshan Malinga | 17 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 58.62 |
| Matt Henry | b Eshan Malinga | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 |
| William O’Rourke | not out | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Extras | 21 (b 0 , lb 2 , nb 1, w 18, pen 0) |
| Total | 150/10 (29.4 Overs, RR: 5.06) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 7 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 3.71 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 7.4 | 0 | 35 | 3 | 4.73 | |
| Eshan Malinga | 7 | 1 | 35 | 3 | 5.00 | |
| Janith Liyanage | 3 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 5.33 | |
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 4.67 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 11.00 | |
 at Eden Park in Auckland. However, New Zealand claimed the series 2-1. ){kind=link}