Recap: Sri Lanka takes consolation victory in 3rd ODI

AUCKLAND: Sri Lanka may have already lost the three match ODI series against New Zealand heading into Saturday’s contest, but that didn’t stop the Lions from putting on a fantastic performance to end their tour on a positive note.

Sri Lanka’s innings

Sri Lanka’s batting line-up had a few great knocks that led them to their 290 total. Opener Pathum Nissanka made the largest contribution with 66 runs scored off 42 deliveries. He started off the game with some good luck, as Matt Henry’s delivery took a thick outside edge before flying over backward point to give the Lions a four on the very first ball of the match. Nissanka hit five more fours and five sixes during the rest of his innings.

The Sri Lankan opener brought up his 16th ODI fifty in just the tenth over. But, celebrations were cut off by injury worries. Nissanka began to limp before he completely collapsed on the ground. He left the field with what seemed to be a hip injury.

Nissanka returned to the field in the 34th over, but would be dismissed in the 37th after a delivery from Mitchell Santner was hit into the hands of Nathan Smith at deep square leg.

Kusal Mendis also impressed with his fifty. He began his innings after Nissanka was injured, and it didn’t take long for him to pick up where his compatriot left off. Four fours and two sixes later, Mendis brought up his 33rd ODI fifty in the 27th over. He hit one more four before he was dismissed in the 28th, as a delivery from Santner found the top edge of Mendis’ bat while the Sri Lankan attempted a sweep. The ball popped up and eventually found the hands of Michael Bracewell near mid-wicket.

Janith Liyanage was the third Sri Lankan to make a fifty. It was the fourth half century of his career and he did it off 52 deliveries. Liyanage came on after Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka was sent off in the 30th over. He had an early lbw scare in the 32nd, one that New Zealand used a review on, but it didn’t pay off for the Kiwis. The Sri Lankan batter would go on to five boundaries, the last of which brought up his half century in the penultimate over. In the last over, Liyanage struck a full toss from Henry to Glenn Phillips at deep mid-wicket.

Sri Lanka ended their innings with a score of 290, losing eight wickets in the process. Matt Henry was the best bowler for New Zealand, dismissing four batsmen.

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New Zealand’s innings

Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga, and Maheesh Theekshana led the charge for Sri Lanka’s bowlers, taking three wickets each. Theekshana was the first to strike, dismissing Will Young in the second over for a duck. The New Zealand opener would chip the ball to short midwicket where Fernando took the catch. He took two more wickets during the match. Santner was sent off after Theekshana’s delivery brushed against the edge of the bat before Kusal took the catch. Mark Chapman was Theekshana’s third dismissal and the last of the game. He was bowled in the 30th over after making 81 runs.

But, before Chapman’s dismissal ended the game, Fernando and Malinga had their fair share of fun. Fernando bowled Rachin Ravindra in the third over. His next two dismissals sent both Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips back to the pavilion with a pair of ducks in the seventh over. Latham was caught out at backward point Wanindu Hasaranga, while Phillips was caught at second slip by Kamindu.

Malinga’s first dismissal came in the sixth over with a little help froim Nuwanidu Fernando who took an incredible catch at backward point, sending off Daryl Mitchell. His next two wickets would come near the end of the match. First, he dismissed Nathan Smith who was caught behind after Malinga’s delivery found the outside edge of his bat. A slower delivery in Malinga’s next over caught Henry off guard, as the off-cutter slammed into the stumps.

Liyanage also took one wicket, dismissing Bracewell.

Sri Lanka won by 140 runs to leave New Zealand on a positive note after suffering two series defeats.  

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