Sri Lanka Salvage Pride with 140-run Defeat of New Zealand, Lose Series 1-2

ND Prashant
11 Jan 2025
14:12

Sri Lanka rode on a superb all-round performance by its batters and bowlers to hand New Zealand a 140-run defeat in the third and final One-day International (ODI) in Auckland on Saturday and salvaged some pride as the hosts won the series 2-1.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand

Having already lost the first two matches, New Zealand were hoping to complete a clean sweep. But Sri Lanka had other ideas as they raised a fighting total after electing to bat first.

With Pathum Nissanka (66), Kusal Mendis (54), Janith Liyanage (53), and Kamindu Mendis (46) scoring vital runs, Sri Lanka posted a challenging 290/8 in their 50 overs. For New Zealand, seamer Matt Henry claimed four wickets for 55 runs and captain Mitchell Santner claimed 2-55 but they could not stop the visitors from putting on a big total.

The Sri Lankan bowlers too came up with a clinical performance and caused a lot of damage to the New Zealand innings in the Power-play. Will Young (0), Rachin Ravindra (1), Daryl Mitchell (2), Tom Latham, and Glenn Phillips (0) were out cheaply as the Black Caps slumped to 21/5 in the seventh over.

They failed to recover from that despite a valiant fighting run-a-ball 81 (10x4, 1x6) by Mark Chapman and were bundled out for 150 in just 29.4 overs.

For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando (3-26), Maheesh Theekshana (3-35) and Eshan Malinga (3-35) were the wreckers-in-chief as they throttled the New Zealand innings at the start itself.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka was happy with his team's victory though was disappointed with the overall series result. 

Charith Asalanka
I think it's always great to make a comeback like this. Unfortunately, we lost the first two but the way the boys played today, it was a pleasure to watch and really good. Few more areas to work with fast bowlers...must give credit to New Zeland bowlers; they put us under pressure, but we'll continue to improve.

New Zealand captain Santner said they lost wickets early and that cost them the match.

Mitchell Santner
Little disappointing, probably not the way we wanted to finish the series. Credit to Sri Lanka; they put a score on board, and they challenged us early and it was pretty tough to come back from there. They got the ball swinging and made it challenging. We did that throughout the series. I guess we will take it on the chin.
Mitchell Santner
A lot of positives from the series, guys playing their roles. The lads performed really well in the series against a very good team and the depth in their squad is outstanding. We go to Pakistan, and it will be a change of conditions so we'll prepare and adapt as best as we can
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