Auckland [New Zealand]: Despite being named “Player of the Series” for his stellar performances, New Zealand’s Matt Henry expressed mixed feelings following his team’s defeat in the final ODI of the series against Sri Lanka on Saturday in Auckland. New Zealand, chasing a target of 291, were bowled out for a mere 150 runs, falling significantly short.
Matt Henry’s Thoughts
“It’s a shame we didn’t get over the line,” Henry admitted, expressing his disappointment after the loss. “Nice to get the momentum going forward. Sometimes you want things to go differently, but we got many positives from this series and will make sure to take them forward.”
New Zealand won the series 2-1, and Henry’s consistent efforts with the ball throughout the series earned him the “Player of the Series” accolade, with his nine wickets playing a crucial role in the team’s success.
Recap of the Final ODI
In the third and final match of the series, Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first. The Sri Lankan side posted 290 runs for 8 wickets in their 50 overs, with notable contributions 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)
New Zealand’s Matt Henry was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for 55 runs in his 10 overs. Mitchell Santner claimed 2 wickets, while Nathan Smith and Michael Bracewell each took 1 wicket.
New Zealand’s Response
Chasing the 291-run target, New Zealand was bowled out for just 150 runs in 29.4 overs. The top scorers for New Zealand were:
- Mark Chapman: 81 runs off 81 balls (10 fours, 1 six)
- 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)
Sri Lanka’s bowlers were exceptional, with Asitha Fernando (3/26), Maheesh Theekshana (3/35), and Eshan Malinga (3/35) each taking three wickets. Janith Liyange claimed one wicket in his 3-over spell, conceding just 16 runs.
Despite the loss in the final match, New Zealand sealed the three-match ODI series 2-1. Asitha Fernando was named “Player of the Match” for his brilliant bowling performance, and Matt Henry was awarded “Player of the Series” for his outstanding contributions across the three matches.