After falling to 21 for five at Eden Park and being bowled for 150 off 29.4 overs, the host team’s aspirations of chasing down Sri Lanka’s 290 for eight were severely damaged.
On Saturday, Sri Lanka easily won the third One-Day International in Auckland by 140 runs, destroying New Zealand’s top order and securing the series’ only win. When the home team collapsed to 21 for five at Eden Park and was dismissed for 150 off 29.4 overs, their dreams of chasing down Sri Lanka’s 290 for eight were severely dashed.
After losing badly in the first two games, Sri Lanka bounced back to lose the three-match series.
It was spearheaded by spinner Maheesh Theekshana and deadly seam bowling from Asitha Fernando and Eshan Malinga, who each took three wickets.
New Zealand’s first five wickets fell in the first seven overs, with Fernando (3-26) being the main destroyer with the new ball.If not for the last out of Mark Chapman, the number three New Zealand batsman, who was bowled by Theekshana (3-35) with 81 off 81 balls, the victory margin would have been larger.
Of the top six, five were out for two runs or less, and no other New Zealander made it to 20.
Prior to this, Sri Lanka’s injured opener Pathum Nissanka led the team in scoring with 66 off 42 balls.
Nissanka got his team off to a great start at 66 without loss in 10 overs, but he retired hurt after appearing to have a hip problem. He was on 50 off 31 balls.After recovering, he came back to add 16 more runs in the 34th over, hitting a total of six fours and five sixes.
The Sri Lankan batting effort was far better, with half-centuries from Kusal Mendis (54 off 48) and Janith Liyanage (53 off 52).
As skipper Mitchell Santner got two for 55 with his spin, New Zealand seamer Matt Henry maintained his impressive campaign, taking four for 55 to reach 150 ODI wickets.
