Kusal Mendis’ batting masterclass and crucial lower-order contributions guided Sri Lanka to victory in the 2nd ODI, clinching the ODI series against New Zealand after 12 long years on Sunday, 17th November, in Pallekele.
A brilliant 78-ball, 75-run partnership between Mark Chapman and Mitch Hay helped New Zealand post 209 all out in a rain-affected innings after Sri Lanka opted to bowl first.
The chase wasn’t easy for the Lankan batters on a slow, spinning wicket, as the New Zealand spinners exploited the conditions by starting with spin from the first over and reducing the hosts to 46 for 3. Pathum Nissanka threw his wicket away after a promising start, scoring 28 runs. Kamindu Mendis, promoted up the order, failed to contribute.
Sri Lanka slipped further as Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama fell cheaply, leaving the team reeling at 93 for 5 inside 22 overs. Michael Bracewell did most of the damage, picking up three wickets, while Kusal Mendis held firm at one end.
He was joined by Janith Liyanage, and the duo batted patiently to build a crucial 39-run stand while the islanders were on the back foot. However, after a cautious start, Liyanage lost his patience and fell to Nathan Smith, who claimed his maiden ODI wicket, dismissing him for 22.
Dunith Wellalage then walked out to the middle and shifted the momentum, smashing three successive fours off Smith in his next over. His aggressive approach also eased the pressure on Mendis, who was struggling while running between the wickets. The keeper-batter, following up on his century in the first game, reached a gritty fifty off 84 balls in challenging conditions. However, Bracewell struck again, dismissing Wellalage for 18. He finished with career-best figures of 4 for 36 in 10 overs.
With nearly 50 runs still required, Maheesh Theekshana delivered with the bat, playing a valuable knock. He shared an unbeaten 47-run stand with the limping Mendis, guiding Sri Lanka to a historic win in a tense chase. Theekshana remained unbeaten on 27 off 44 balls, while Mendis played a composed knock of 74 off 102 balls, including six fours.
Earlier, Sri Lanka struck early, dismissing Tim Robinson and Henry Nicholls to reduce New Zealand to 31 for 2 in eight overs. Wellalage made an immediate impact in his first over, clean-bowling Robinson, while Theekshana removed Nicholls, who played onto his stumps off a 107 KPH slider.
Rain interrupted play just an over later, causing a 35-minute delay before the match resumed. However, another rain stoppage after 9.1 overs resulted in nearly an hour’s pause, reducing the match to 47 overs per side.
During these interruptions, the visitors lost their third wicket after a 38-run stand between Will Young and Mark Chapman. The former was stumped by Kusal Mendis off Jeffrey Vandersay. Glenn Phillips, who struggled throughout the tour, fell for 15 as Avishka Fernando held onto a sharp low catch off Asalanka’s bowling in the 24th over, leaving New Zealand at 98 for 4.
Mitch Hay, the young keeper-batter, joined Chapman, and the pair aimed to stabilize the innings. Starting cautiously, they gradually increased the scoring rate, threatening to take the game away from the hosts as Sri Lanka’s fielders missed a few chances. However, Avishka Fernando stood out with exceptional fielding, ending their partnership with a brilliant catch at deep mid-wicket off Asitha Fernando’s bowling. Chapman departed after a well-made 76 off 81 balls, which included seven fours and three sixes.
In the same over, Avishka struck again with another superb low catch to dismiss Bracewell for a 4-ball duck. New Zealand’s slide continued as Vandersay claimed two wickets in consecutive deliveries. Mitchell Santner was caught by Nissanka, and Nathan Smith was trapped LBW on the next ball, leaving the visitors reeling at 185 for 8. Vandersay finished with impressive figures of 3 for 46 from his 10 overs.
Theekshana bagged the remaining two wickets and finished with 3 for 31. Hay scored valuable runs, taking the side over 200, but unfortunately fell just one run short of his maiden fifty.
Earlier today, Charith Asalanka won the toss and opted to bowl first as spin all-rounder Dunith Wellalage was brought into the side, replacing Dilshan Madushanka.
New Zealand, meanwhile, made no changes to their lineup following their 45-run loss (DLS Method) in the series opener.
Playing XI
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (WK), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando
New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Mitch Hay (WK), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (C), Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Young | st Kusal Mendis b Jeffery Vandersay | 26 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 65.00 |
| Tim Robinson | b Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Henry Nicholls | b Maheesh Theekshana | 8 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 34.78 |
| Mark Chapman | c Avishka Fernando b Asitha Fernando | 76 | 81 | 7 | 3 | 93.83 |
| Glenn Phillips | c Avishka Fernando b Charith Asalanka | 15 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 68.18 |
| Mitchell Hay | c Kusal Mendis b Maheesh Theekshana | 49 | 62 | 4 | 0 | 79.03 |
| Michael Bracewell | c Avishka Fernando b Asitha Fernando | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | c Pathum Nissanka b Jeffery Vandersay | 6 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Nathan Smith | lbw b Jeffery Vandersay | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Ish Sodhi | st Kusal Mendis b Maheesh Theekshana | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Jacob Duffy | not out | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Extras | 12 (b 0 , lb 2 , nb 0, w 10, pen 0) |
| Total | 209/10 (45.1 Overs, RR: 4.63) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 7 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 5.29 | |
| Dunith Wellalage | 8 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 5.75 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 9.1 | 0 | 31 | 3 | 3.41 | |
| Janith Liyanage | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 6.00 | |
| Jeffery Vandersay | 10 | 0 | 46 | 3 | 4.60 | |
| Charith Asalanka | 8 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 3.62 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Mark Chapman b Michael Bracewell | 28 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 84.85 |
| Avishka Fernando | c Henry Nicholls b Mitchell Santner | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Kusal Mendis | not out | 74 | 102 | 6 | 0 | 72.55 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Mitchell Hay b Michael Bracewell | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Ish Sodhi b Michael Bracewell | 13 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 108.33 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | c Mitchell Hay b Glenn Phillips | 8 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 47.06 |
| Janith Liyanage | c Mitchell Hay b Nathan Smith | 22 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 56.41 |
| Dunith Wellalage | c Ish Sodhi b Michael Bracewell | 18 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 105.88 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | not out | 27 | 44 | 2 | 1 | 61.36 |
| Extras | 15 (b 6 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 9, pen 0) |
| Total | 210/7 (46 Overs, RR: 4.57) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Santner | 10 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 3.30 | |
| Jacob Duffy | 5 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 7.20 | |
| Michael Bracewell | 10 | 0 | 36 | 4 | 3.60 | |
| Ish Sodhi | 9 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 4.11 | |
| Glenn Phillips | 9 | 0 | 41 | 1 | 4.56 | |
| Nathan Smith | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 7.00 | |
