The third and final match of the ODI series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka It ended with the Islanders winning the match by 140 runs. A solid display from the visitors with the bat and a remarkable bowling show from Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana sealed the victory for Sri Lanka. The trio took 3 wickets each and in the end it proved too much for the home team and stopped their run chase at just 150 runs in 29.4 overs.
The only ray of hope for the Blackcaps was Mark Chapman. However, the dynamic opener could not do much amid little support from other New Zealand batsmen and failed to turn the tide for the Blackcaps. However, the victory is just a constellation award for Sri Lanka as the home team had already achieved a victory in the ODI series by winning the first two matches.
A determined effort from Sri Lanka with the bat
Sri Lanka looked confident from the start of the match. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision was valuable since Pathum Nissanka and first order mass Where in Mendi gave Sri Lanka a solid start. Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyange were next to stabilize Sri Lanka’s innings. A dedicated knock by these Sri Lankan batsmen helped Sri Lanka score 290 runs in 50 overs.
matt henry He starred in the New Zealand bowling unit. The Blackcaps ace pacer took 4 wickets for his team and achieved a historic milestone by completing 150 wickets in his ODI career.
Terrible display from New Zealand batsmen
In response, the New Zealand batsmen put on a horror show with the bat. It started with openers will be young and Rachin Ravindra being dismissed early, leaving the Blackcaps two wickets down in just 4 runs. New Zealand’s entire middle order completely collapsed, adding to concerns for the Blackcaps.
The New Zealand lower order tried to support Chapman, who was the only traditional batsman to withstand the onslaught of Sri Lanka’s pace attack. Chapman’s 81 runs off 81 balls made him a knight in shining armor of New Zealand’s already derailed innings. However, not even Chapman could save the home team from historic humiliation as he was the last batsman to be dismissed by the Sri Lankan pacers. This is Sri Lanka’s second-largest margin of victory against New Zealand in the ODI format, the largest being a 189-run victory in Auckland in 2007.
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This is how Twitter reacted
I’m pretty sure that somehow a loss will be Chapman’s fault and that Latham will escape scrutiny for yet another failure. I’m also sure we’ll leave Chapman and Hay out of the squad, because ‘experience’… #nzvsl
— Simon Wood (@WoodOnWineNZ) January 11, 2025
If there was a league to win dead games, we would be world champions, right? 🇱🇰#NZvSL
– Kithmina Hewage (@khewage1) January 11, 2025
Largest margins of victory (in terms of runs) in Sri Lanka’s ODIs against New Zealand:
189-Auckland 2007
140 – Auckland 2025
112 – Bombay 2011 (WC)
106 – Sharjah 2001
106 – Colombo (SSC) 2001#NZvSL-Arthur_S (@allanholloway) January 11, 2025
It’s a shame Sri Lanka didn’t play in the Champions Trophy!! One of the teams that has improved the most in the last 8 months!! In the current performances they deserve to be there more than Bangladesh!! #TrofeoCampeones2025 #NZvSL
— 🇵🇰 | Hassan™🏏🎮 (@HassanEmpire007) January 11, 2025
Well, I have been a fan of SL since I knew cricket. And honestly, with their history as an overseas touring team, I didn’t give them a chance in this series expecting them to go 6-0 in all formats. So I am very satisfied with its performance.#NZvSL
-Riwaj (@ReiwazAdh) January 11, 2025
First ODI win for SL in New Zealand after 9 years and after 10 games without a win
The last victory was on December 31, 2015.Asitha Fernando should be the MOTM
That Nissanka 50 out of 31 in PP when the ball did everything was spectacularly special #NZvSL— RENAISSANCE (@RENESSAN) January 11, 2025
Mark Chapman the last to be fired for 81
New Zealand Go all out for 150
Sri Lanka wins by 140 runs, New Zealand wins series 2-1 #NZvSL pic.twitter.com/HB8CKiTFb9
– Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) January 11, 2025
This is a good recovery #SriLanka This man, Sanath Jayasuriya, is trying to bring the old Sri Lankan flavor of the 90s into the team. #NZvsSL
– Harish Sridhar (@timelesscricket) January 11, 2025
Credit goes to Sri Lanka, so well done for beating us up tonight, but @BLACKCAPS seriously…🤔🤔
—Brendon Corlett 🇳🇿 (@BrendonCorlett1) January 11, 2025
29* 62 and 81
What a performance by Mark Chapman, leading run scorer in this series. 🏅#NZvsSL pic.twitter.com/opqS6Hcn7B
— 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐬 🇳🇿 (@Kiwiscricketfan) January 11, 2025