Auckland [New Zealand]: Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando delivered a brilliant performance in the final ODI against New Zealand, taking 3 wickets for 26 runs in 7 overs. His efforts helped Sri Lanka win the match by 140 runs, denying New Zealand a clean sweep in the series.
Reflecting on his stellar performance, Fernando said, “It’s a huge confidence boost for me and the team because we haven’t had a good first two games, but it feels good to play in this way. We identified a few areas to be improved, and we’ll work on those areas,” as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
While Sri Lanka claimed victory in the final match, the series ended in favor of New Zealand, who won 2-1. Despite the series loss, Sri Lanka’s strong finish offers momentum for their future fixtures.
Recap of the Final ODI
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. The team posted a competitive total of 290/8 in their 50 overs. Key contributions came from:
- Pathum Nissanka: 66 runs off 42 balls (6 fours, 5 sixes)
- Kusal Mendis: 54 runs off 48 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes)
- Janith Liyange: 53 runs off 52 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes)
- Kamindu Mendis: 46 runs off 71 balls (3 sixes, 2 fours)
For New Zealand, the standout bowler was Matt Henry, who took 4 wickets for 55 runs in his 10 overs. Mitchell Santner claimed 2 wickets, while Nathan Smith and Michael Bracewell each took one wicket.
New Zealand’s Chase
Chasing 291 runs, New Zealand were dismissed for just 150 in 29.4 overs. Their top scorer was Mark Chapman, who made 81 runs off 81 balls (10 fours, 1 six). Other contributions came from:
- Nathan Smith: 17 runs off 29 balls (1 four)
- Michael Bracewell: 13 runs off 20 balls (1 four, 1 six)
- Matt Henry: 12 runs off 6 balls (1 four, 1 six)
For Sri Lanka, Fernando (3/26), Maheesh Theekshana (3/35), and Eshan Malinga (3/35) were the key wicket-takers. Janith Liyange also claimed a wicket in his 3-over spell, conceding just 16 runs.
Post-Match Honors
Despite the loss in the final match, New Zealand clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1. Asitha Fernando was awarded “Player of the Match” for his outstanding bowling performance. Matt Henry was named “Player of the Series” for his impressive efforts throughout the series, where he took 9 wickets.