New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Highlights, 3rd ODI: Sri Lanka won by 140 runs

Asitha Fernando to Rachin Ravindra, OUT! BOWLED'EM! THROUGH HIS DEFENCE! A corker of a delivery and you won't see many better inswinging yorkers bang on target than this. Asitha charges in from over the stumps and spears in a pinpoint yorker. Gets that lateral movement as the ball tails back in after pitching with Ravindra having no answer to it at all. He brings the bat in front to block but gets a bit late and the ball beats the bat and disturbs the timber. A match-winning 79 in the previous ODI, but Rachin Ravindra goes for 1 (5) this time around, and New Zealand is dealt with a couple of early blows. 4/2 after 2.2 overs.

Asitha Fernando to Rachin Ravindra, Good length on off, Rachin Ravindra defends this back to the bowler. 

Asitha Fernando to Rachin Ravindra, WIDE! On a length wide down the leg, Rachin Ravindra leaves it. Wided.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mark Chapman, Fuller and flatter around off, Mark Chapman leaves this as well. 

Maheesh Theekshana to Mark Chapman, Floated wide of off, Mark Chapman leaves it.

Mark Chapman is in at number 3.

Maheesh Theekshana to Will Young, OUT! FLAT IN THE AIR AND GONE! The struggle ends for Will Young and the Lankans celebrate in unison as they get their first breakthrough. Theekshana dishes out a flatter and quicker one, around off, with the seam in an upright position. It is that conventional in-drifter tailing into the batter with some pace on it. Will Young is hurried and looks to nudge this away towards leg but gets a bit more than what he would have liked onto it. The ball chips straight into the safe hands of Avishka Fernando at short mid-wicket for a simple catch. New Zealand are struck early for 3/1. 

Maheesh Theekshana to Will Young, Carrom-ball around the pads, Will Young swings early and misses. The ball deflects off his pads towards short third. 

Maheesh Theekshana to Rachin Ravindra, NO BALL! Maheesh Theekshana has overstepped. Short of a length, darted into the batter. Rachin Ravindra pushes this gently towards off and runs a quick one. FREE HIT up next for Young.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rachin Ravindra, Floated around off, Rachin Ravindra pokes at it but gets beaten.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rachin Ravindra, Surprisingly, Maheesh Theekshana gives it some air and it grips and bounces around off, Rachin Ravindra defends this towards cover-point.

For a fact, 340 is the highest successful run chase at this venue. It was executed by Australia against New Zealand back in 2007. And in this decade, in 2022, India successfully chased down 309 against New Zealand. So, it is doable if we go by the historical records. Also, an early spin is summoned by Asalanka. Maheesh Theekshana to operate from the far end. 

Asitha Fernando to Will Young, On a length wide of off, Will Young shoulders arms it. An excellent start with the ball for Asitha Fernando and Sri Lanka.

Asitha Fernando to Will Young, On a length around off, Young defends this with a bit more conviction.

Asitha Fernando to Will Young, Good length wide of off, Will Young lets it sail back to the keeper.

Asitha Fernando to Will Young, EDGED AND DROPPED! On a length around off, angling into the batter this time. Will Young looks to block this out but gets an outside edge low to the left of first slip and he drops it.

Asitha Fernando to Will Young, On a length wide outside off, Will Young swings and gets beaten as it goes away from the batter.

Asitha Fernando to Will Young, WIDE! Short and wide outside off, Will Young leaves it. Wided.

Asitha Fernando to Will Young, Starts with a fuller one around off, Will Young drives this towards mid off for no run to begin the chase. It did shape away from the batter after pitching.

We are back with the chase. The umpires are out in the middle followed by the players of Sri Lanka who scatter out to the park. For New Zealand, Will Young and Rachin Ravindra walk out as the opening pair. Asitha Fernando will bowl the first over of the chase. Off we go...

... The Run Chase ...

Well then, the first innings has flown by and the momentum has shifted back and forth through and through. Spinners have found a good purchase from this deck once the ball has gotten old. And that's where the Sri Lankan spin attack would become effective if they get their lines and lengths correct. With the likes of Hasaranga, Theekshana, and Liyanage in the ranks, it is not going to be an easy chase for the Kiwi batters. An all-important run chase is up next shortly. Do not go anywhere! 

Coming into the final ten overs, Janith Liyanage was settled at one end, while Chamindu took his own time to get going. The two formed a good little partnership with Liyanage doing the most heavy lifting with the bat. But it was Wanindu Hasaranga who attempted to provide that final surge for the tourists with Liyanage notching up a crucial half-century which propelled Sri Lanka to post a challenging total on the board. For New Zealand, Matt Henry was the most successful bowler who claimed 4 wickets to his name, while Santner tried to stem the flow of runs with a couple of wickets of his own as well. While William O'Rourke looked a bit rusty throughout and Nathan Smith too, leaked a few quick runs with a wicket to his name. 

Sri Lanka's position further got worrisome with the re-introduction of Matt Henry who struck quickly and removed well-settled Kamindu Mendis. With both set batters in the sheds in the span of just a few deliveries, Sri Lanka had to start from scratch. Pathum Nissanka, who got retired hurt earlier, came out to bat again to bail Sri Lanka from a serious position. Still hobbling to run, Nissanka struck a few lusty blows to retrieve the run rate before eventually perishing. In this phase, Sri Lanka lost three wickets and scored a handy 52 runs.

The Mendis alliance built a strong resilient partnership and paced their innings pretty well, with Kusal attacking while Kamindu played anchor. Though Kusal reached his fifty swiftly, New Zealand's spinners found grip with the aging ball, striking twice in quick succession. Sri Lanka lost momentum, slipping from 156/1 to 160/3 as Asalanka fell for a duck. Sri Lanka, on the back of that 87-run stand for the second wicket, added 47 runs in those ten overs but at the cost of two crucial wickets.

This little phase was cashed on well by the Kiwi bowlers as Santner and Smith both stemmed the flow of runs for a bit. Sri Lanka had to rebuild during this phase. Both Kamindu and Kusal Mendis neutralized the threat of a collapse and knocked around to rotate the strike, also finding a few boundaries eventually. Having notched up 66 off the first ten overs, the tourists cruised at a gentle pace and mustered up 46 runs in the next ten overs. New Zealand had only used four bowlers until this point.

Sri Lanka started well on a bouncy pitch, with Pathum Nissanka timing his shots perfectly while Avishka Fernando struggled for rhythm at the other end. Despite decent bowling spells from Henry and O'Rourke, Nissanka kept finding boundaries and reached his fifty as well. But, unfortunately for him, he got retired hurt just after that. The momentum sharply shifted when Nathan Smith dismissed the Avishka Fernando sooner who looked a bit rusty throughout his inning.

A strong finish for Sri Lanka towards the backend and they would be delighted to get past 290. They have managed to squeeze out 76 runs in the last ten overs. A job well done by the lower order that came to the rescue under pressure. For New Zealand, they leaked too many runs in the death overs and couldn't put on a lid and run through the Sri Lankan tail.

Matt Henry to Maheesh Theekshana, FOUR! Attempted yorker goes wrong and becomes a full toss which is smashed down the ground by Maheesh Theekshana for a boundary towards long on. Sri Lanka finishes off with 300 on the board.

Matt Henry to Maheesh Theekshana, Slower one pitched short and around leg, Maheesh Theekshana swings but misses.

Matt Henry to Eshan Malinga, Yorker in search of the fifth from Henry. Eshan Malinga tucks this away on leg for one.

Eshan Malinga is in at number 10.

Matt Henry to Janith Liyanage, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Low full toss on middle and leg, Janith Liyanage flicks this half-heartedly and the ball travels straight at one of the finest fielders across the globe in Glenn Phillips stationed at the deep mid-wicket fence. 

Matt Henry to Maheesh Theekshana, Bumper, around off, Maheesh Theekshana ramps this over the keeper for one.

Matt Henry to Maheesh Theekshana, Back of a length on off, Maheesh Theekshana looks for a run through that short third region but misses.

Who bowls the final over of the first innings? Has to be Henry, of course! And he will bowl out. He is 9-0-49-3 so far.

Nathan Smith to Janith Liyanage, FOUR! FIFTY FOR JANITH! A brave knock under pressure and he will be elated to do so on foreign soil. Short-pitched, around leg, Janith Liyanage hooks this and beats short fine leg fielder for a boundary to bring up his half-century. It has been a superb tour for him so far.

Nathan Smith to Janith Liyanage, Full and wide outside off, pace off. Janith Liyanage swings and misses.

Change of bat for Janith Liyanage. The reserve player from the Sri Lankan dugout rushes out with the willows. Liyanage selects a heavy one and is good to continue.

Nathan Smith to Maheesh Theekshana, Short-pitched, on off, Maheesh Theekshana dabs this to third man for one.

Nathan Smith to Maheesh Theekshana, FOUR! Such strokes would do for Sri Lanka and Maheesh Theekshana. Good length on off, Maheesh Theekshana plays this very late, opens the face of his bat and looks to run this down to short third but gets it really fine and this beats the keeper before racing away to the fence.

Nathan Smith to Maheesh Theekshana, Back of a length, into the batter, Maheesh Theekshana moves away and looks to cut this but misses. Maheesh Theekshana needs to get bat on ball and bring back Janith Liyanage on strike.

Nathan Smith to Janith Liyanage, Short and wide outside off, Janith Liyanage cuts this to deep point for one.

Matt Henry to Janith Liyanage, Short-pitched on off, Janith Liyanage pulls this towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Matt Henry to Maheesh Theekshana, On a length outside off, Maheesh Theekshana swings and gets an outside edge towards third man for one. Rachin Ravindra was in with a chance for a catch but a hint of indecision helped Maheesh Theekshana to survive a golden duck

Maheesh Theekshana, the hattrick man from the previous game, walks out to bat at number 9.

Matt Henry to Wanindu Hasaranga, OUT! BOWLED'EM! You miss, I hit says Henry! A snorter of a delivery to get his man! Henry stays over the stumps and he executes a pin-point yorker right at the base of the off-pole, Wanindu Hasaranga, expecting a short-pitched delivery, moves away to give himself some room, and ends up exposing all the pegs. He bends low and opens the bat face but misses to squeeze it. The ball goes on to rattle the stumps as the off-pole goes for a walk. A short brisk inning from Hasaranga comes to an end. 

Matt Henry to Janith Liyanage, Slower on, short-pitched, on middle and off, Janith Liyanage flat bats it to long on for one.

Matt Henry to Janith Liyanage, SIX! AWAY SHE GOES FOR SIX! On a length around the pads, Janith Liyanage slogs this and gets plenty behind it. The ball flies over the fielder on the fence towards deep mid-wicket for six.

Matt Henry to Janith Liyanage, On a length around off, Janith Liyanage pushes this towards off for no run.