New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls bats as Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis reacts in the course of the third one-day worldwide cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Seddon Park in Hamilton on March 31, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AFP
New Zealand capitalized on one other failure by Sri Lanka’s batters and prevented one among its personal to win the third one-day worldwide by six wickets in Hamilton on Friday and to take the three-match series 2-0.
After being bowled out for under 76 within the first match — which New Zealand gained by 198 runs — Sri Lanka was dismissed for 157 in 41.3 overs because it batted first after profitable the toss in Game 3. The second match was deserted due to rain.
New Zealand additionally was in bother early when it misplaced two wickets within the second over of its innings and was 6-2, then 21-3. But Will Young, who had been off form with solely 30 runs from his final 4 ODI innings, floor his manner again to kind with an unbeaten 86 which guided New Zealand to victory with 17.1 overs remaining.
Young and Henry Nicholls (44) shared an unbroken partnership of precisely 100 runs for the fifth wicket.
Like all batters Friday, Young had moments of alarm in his innings and typically was tempted to dangle the bat exterior off stump. But he persevered and ultimately reached his half century from 71 balls, largely from enjoying with sound approach slightly than attempting to hit out recklessly.
“I’m stoked to spend a bit of time in the middle and contribute a bit to the team,” Henry stated. “To end up with a series win was pretty special, too.
“It was a bit of a grind out there to be honest. There was some good bowling and patches when they hit their length. It wasn’t always pretty but we got the job done in the end.”
The New Zealand seamers arrange the win with one other glorious efficiency. Henry Shipley, who took 5-31 within the first match, returned 3-32 on Friday and has been an enormous success in his first house series.
Matt Henry took 3-14 and produced an excellent early spell by which he eliminated Nuwanidu Fernando (2) and Kusal Mendis (0) as Sri Lanka slumped to 23-3 by the top of the primary 10-over powerplay.
Sri Lanka wasn’t in a position to produce sustained partnerships which could break New Zealand’s grip on the match, even when opener Pathum Nissanka grew to become a attainable anchor along with his innings of 57 from 58 balls.
Apart from Nissanka, solely three Sri Lanka batters reached double figures. Of these, captain Dasun Shanaka was the very best with 31 from 38 balls.
The New Zealand bowling was relentless. After Henry and Shipley, Daryl Mitchell chipped in with 3-32 from seven overs.
The pitch at Seddon Park was much like the one at Eden Park in Auckland on which Sri Lanka was bowled out for its lowest-ever ODI rating in opposition to New Zealand. Bowlers early on had been rewarded for a full size because the ball moved a little bit off the floor or held up and made timing tough. Bounce which typically was sharp, typically tennis ball-like, additionally was tough to evaluate.
“I think as a bowling group we talked of being quite ruthless, dictating play and we’re happy with the efforts,” Henry stated. “It’s been a great start for Henry (Shipley) and we as a collective have talked about being good for long periods of time.”
Henry first had the wicket of Nuwanidu who leaned ahead on a ball pitched into his pads which straightened and delivered a straightforward catch to Henry Nicholls at slip. Most of the wickets that fell Friday had been to catches behind the wicket.
Henry then eliminated Kusal Mendis for a six-ball duck. The ball once more was full, simply exterior off stump, and Mendis edged to Daryl Mitchell at first slip.
Henry twice had selections in opposition to Nissanka overturned on assessment earlier than Shipley stepped up and dismissed Angelo Mathews, who defended a straight ball which additionally moved away and gave Mitchell one other slip catch.
Nissanka stayed on till Sri Lanka was 100-6. Few others stayed lengthy sufficient to construct a more difficult whole.
New Zealand’s high order additionally struggled within the circumstances. Chad Bowes was caught by Mendis from the primary ball of the second over and Blundell additionally was caught behind from the sixth ball of the over bowled by Lahiru Kumara.
Mitchell gave Mendis one other catch from the bowling of Kasun Rajitha and Latham chopped on a supply from Shanaka which was effectively vast of off stumps.
Young and Nicholls noticed New Zealand house with loads of overs to spare. New Zealand now’s unbeaten in its final six one-day worldwide series at house. It additionally leads the Super League standings for the ICC World Cup in India later this 12 months.
After dropping the series, Sri Lanka won’t qualify mechanically for the World Cup and can now face need to undergo a repechage to qualify.
