NZ beat Sri Lanka by 115 runs in 3rd ODI, win series 3-0

Speed Post News Network

Patna : New Zealand (NZ) crushed Sri Lanka (SL) by 115 runs in the 3rd ODI at Saxton Oval, Nelson, New Zealand, on January 8, 2019, to win the three-match IDI series 3-0. Sri Lanka won the toss but opted to bowl. Ross Taylor was named Player of the Match.

Batting first, New Zealand scored 364/4 in 50 overs riding on 137 in 131 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes by Ross Taylor and a quickfire unbeaten 124 in 80 balls with 12 fours and 3 sixes by Henry Nicholls. Openers Martin Guptil and Colin Munro were out for 2 and 21 respectively. Captain Kane Williamson scored 55 in 65 balls with 6 fours and a six. Jamesh Neesham remained not out on 12 with a four and a six. For Sri Lanka, captain Lashith Malinga took 3/93 and Lakshan Sandakan 1/54.

Chasing a target of 365, Sri Lanka were all out for 249 in 41.4 overs with all-rounder Thisara Perera, who had scored century in the 2nd ODI, scoring 80 in 63 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes and opener Niroshan Dickwella scoring 46 in 37 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Opener Dhananjaya de Silva scored 36 in 29 balls with 5 fours and a six while Kusal Perera made 43 in 49 balls with 5 fours and a six. Kusal Mendis was run out for a duck while Dasun Shanaka made 2. Danushka Gunathilaka scored 31 in 52 balls with just 1 four while Malinga fell for zero.

For NZ, fast bowler Lockie Ferguson took 4/40 in 8 overs while spinner Ish Sodhi took 3/40 in 8.4 overs. Tim Southee and James Neesham took one wicket each.