Sri Lanka delivered a dominant performance to defeat New Zealand by 140 runs in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) played today (11th) at Eden Park, Auckland. Despite the emphatic win, New Zealand claimed the three-match series with a 2-1 victory.
In the day-night encounter, Sri Lanka set an imposing target of 291 runs after posting 290/8 in their 50 overs. This marked their highest-ever total at Eden Park, surpassing the 262/6 they scored under Mahela Jayawardene’s captaincy in 2007.
New Zealand’s response faltered early, with the scoreboard reading a dismal 21/5 in the seventh over. The team was eventually bowled out for just 150 in 29.4 overs. The standout performer for New Zealand was Mark Chapman, who scored a fighting 81 runs before being dismissed as the last wicket. Only three other players managed to score double digits.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers were in top form, with Asitha Fernando (3/26), Eshan Malinga (3/35), and Maheesh Theekshana (3/35) sharing nine wickets among them. Their disciplined and effective bowling dismantled the New Zealand batting lineup.
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s innings was bolstered by a team effort that led to the record total. The commanding victory is reminiscent of their 2007 ODI at the same venue, where they defeated New Zealand by 189 runs.
While the series win went to New Zealand, Sri Lanka’s performance in the final ODI showcased their resilience and skill, setting the stage for their future cricketing challenges.
