New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, securing a comfortable 9-wicket win in the opening game today (5th) at Basin Reserve in Wellington.
After winning the toss, New Zealand elected to bowl first and opted for a four-pronged pace attack. Sri Lanka handed an ODI debut to 23-year-old pacer Eshan Malinga, while Lahiru Kumara returned to the side for the first time since March last year.
Playing XI:
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (WK), Mitchell Santner (C), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, William O’Rourke
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando
Sri Lanka had a poor start as the New Zealand seamers exploited the conditions, reducing the visitors to 23/4 in 9.5 overs. Avishka Fernando and Janith Liyanage attempted to revive the innings with a counter-attacking 87-run partnership off 94 balls for the fifth wicket.
Captain Mitchell Santner broke the stand by dismissing Liyanage for 36. Fernando reached his 9th ODI fifty but fell shortly afterward to Nathan Smith. Fernando top-scored for Sri Lanka with a 63-ball 56, as the visitors lost both set batters within eight balls, leaving them reeling at 110/6.
Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Wanindu Hasaranga contributed a valuable 48-run partnership for the seventh wicket. However, Matt Henry dismissed both batters, and Sri Lanka was eventually bowled out for 178 in 43.4 overs.
Henry was outstanding with the ball, claiming his 13th four-wicket haul in ODIs, finishing with figures of 4/19 in 10 overs. Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith also contributed with two wickets each.
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Chasing 179, New Zealand openers, Will Young and Rachin Ravindra, got off to a flying start. They raced to 70 in the batting powerplay and extended their opening stand to 93. Ravindra became Chamindu Wickramasinghe’s maiden ODI wicket, flicking one straight to Wanindu Hasaranga at deep backward square leg. Ravindra fell just five runs short of his fifty, after an entertaining knock off 36 balls.
Young then partnered with Mark Chapman to keep the chase on track. The duo added an unbeaten 87-run stand to guide New Zealand to a comfortable victory in just 26.2 overs. Young, who reached his half-century during the chase, remained unbeaten on 90 off 86 balls, striking 12 boundaries.
The second ODI of the series will be played on Wednesday (8th) at Seddon Park in Hamilton as a day-night game.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Mitchell Santner b Matt Henry | 9 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 50.00 |
| Avishka Fernando | c Glenn Phillips b Nathan Smith | 56 | 63 | 6 | 1 | 88.89 |
| Kusal Mendis | b Jacob Duffy | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | run out (Mitchell Santner) | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Mitchell Hay b Nathan Smith | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Janith Liyanage | c Michael Bracewell b Mitchell Santner | 36 | 54 | 4 | 1 | 66.67 |
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | c Will Young b Matt Henry | 22 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 52.38 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | c Mitchell Santner b Matt Henry | 35 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 106.06 |
| Eshan Malinga | c Mitchell Santner b Matt Henry | 4 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Lahiru Kumara | not out | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Asitha Fernando | c Mitchell Hay b Jacob Duffy | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Extras | 8 (b 0 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 8, pen 0) |
| Total | 178/10 (43.4 Overs, RR: 4.08) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 10 | 1 | 19 | 4 | 1.90 | |
| Jacob Duffy | 8.4 | 0 | 39 | 2 | 4.64 | |
| Nathan Smith | 8 | 2 | 43 | 2 | 5.38 | |
| William O’Rourke | 10 | 1 | 53 | 0 | 5.30 | |
| Mitchell Santner | 7 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 3.86 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Young | not out | 90 | 86 | 12 | 0 | 104.65 |
| Rachin Ravindra | c Wanindu Hasaranga b Chamindu Wickramasinghe | 45 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 125.00 |
| Mark Chapman | not out | 29 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 80.56 |
| Extras | 16 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 0, w 15, pen 0) |
| Total | 180/1 (26.2 Overs, RR: 6.84) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 6 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 5.50 | |
| Lahiru Kumara | 6 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 8.00 | |
| Eshan Malinga | 5 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 8.20 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 6 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 4.83 | |
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | 3.2 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 8.75 | |
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