On January 11, 2024, New Zealand faced Sri Lanka at Eden Park, marking the 3rd ODI of their three-match series. Despite losing this final match by 140 runs, New Zealand had already secured the series by winning the first two ODIs.
Sri Lanka put forth a solid performance with their batting, posting 290 runs, largely thanks to half-centuries from Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Janith Liyanage. Although Kamindu Mendis narrowly missed his half-century, his contributions added depth to the innings.
New Zealand's bowling was spearheaded by Matt Henry, who took four wickets, but it was not enough to contain Sri Lanka's onslaught. Mitchell Santner took two wickets, and Nathan Smith along with Michael Bracewell managed one each, showcasing New Zealand's delivery options.
Chasing 291 runs, New Zealand never seemed to settle, suffering early losses. They were bundled out for just 150 runs with Mark Chapman providing some resistance, scoring 81 runs. Unfortunately, the rest of the lineup crumbled, largely due to Sri Lanka's disciplined bowling attack led by Player of the Match, Ascitha Fernando, who took three wickets.
"It's unfortunate we lost the series but it's great to see the boys make a comeback," said Charith ASalanka, Sri Lanka's captain, acknowledging the importance of the final match win, which helped uplift the team's morale.
Mitchell Santner commented after the match, "This is not the way we wanted to end the series but credit goes to Lanka for outplaying us," reflecting on New Zealand's unexpected loss.
Moving forward, both teams would take lessons from this series. New Zealand will continue to hone their skills as they prepare for their upcoming triangular ODI series against Pakistan and South Africa, starting on February 8th.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will leave New Zealand with renewed confidence as they gear up to face Australia and participate in the Champions Trophy. This tour has laid down substantial groundwork for both teams, and they will be hoping to capitalize on their respective experiences as they progress.
With exciting international fixtures lined up, cricket fans can reflect on this thrilling series and look forward to more exceptional performances from both teams.