Recent Match Report - Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 3rd ODI 2024

Introduction

The third and final ODI of the 2024 series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was played on January 10, 2024, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. They got off to a solid start, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis putting on a 50-run partnership. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals after that, and were eventually bowled out for 226 in 49.2 overs.

New Zealand's bowlers were excellent, with Trent Boult and Tim Southee taking three wickets each. Mitchell Santner also chipped in with two wickets.

New Zealand's Innings

New Zealand's innings started disastrously, as they lost both openers Martin Guptill and Finn Allen for ducks. However, Kane Williamson and Devon Conway steadied the ship, putting on a 100-run partnership for the third wicket.

Williamson went on to score a magnificent 102 off 117 balls, while Conway made a solid 72 off 90 balls. James Neesham also made a valuable contribution of 43 off 37 balls.

In the end, New Zealand chased down the target with ease, reaching 227/3 in just 43.3 overs.

Conclusion

The victory gave New Zealand a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka. It was a disappointing result for Sri Lanka, who had won the first two matches of the series.

However, they can take heart from the fact that they competed well against a strong New Zealand side. They will now look to regroup and prepare for the upcoming T20I series.