NZ vs SL 3rd ODI, NZ vs SL 2023

New Zealand's chase of Sri Lanka's 157 runs didn't begin on a bright note as they lost their openers, Chad Bowes and Tom Blundell, in quick succession. The credit for this went to Sri Lankan pacer Lahiru Kumara, who got both openers caught behind the stumps, putting his side in a strong position right from the start. After a remarkable bowling performance, Daryl Mitchell was expected to carry his form with the bat, but he failed to impress and was dismissed for a meagre 6 runs. Sri Lanka's Kasun Rajitha stepped up and struck with the golden arm, claiming the crucial wicket of Mitchell and giving his team a much-needed boost.

Will Young and Tom Latham started the rescue work, but their 38-run stand for the 4th wicket was ceased by Shanaka, who trapped his opposite number, Tom Latham, for 8 runs and brought Sri Lanka back in the hunt. New Zealand were in a spot of bother as they were reeling at 59/4 in the 15th over.

The match was a rollercoaster ride for New Zealand as they found themselves struggling at 59/4 in the 15th over. But the determined duo of Will Young and Henry Nicholls came to the rescue with a solid partnership that not only steadied the ship but also secured the win for the Black Caps. Young displayed sheer brilliance with his batting skills, hitting a magnificent half-century that took his side out of a precarious position. Nicholls played an equally crucial role in the partnership and remained unbeaten along with Young until the end. Together, they sealed the deal for New Zealand, with Young finishing unbeaten on an impressive 86 runs and Nicholls on 44 runs.

Sri Lanka's bowling performance was exceptional in the first 20 overs, creating immense pressure on the Kiwi batsmen. However, they failed to maintain the momentum, which cost them the game and the series. Lahiru Kumara proved to be a standout performer, taking two crucial wickets, while Kasun Rajitha and Dasun Shanaka also contributed with one wicket each. Despite their impressive start, Sri Lanka couldn't capitalize on their early breakthroughs and allowed the New Zealand batsmen to build a solid partnership that ultimately led to their defeat. 

Let's take a moment to relive the excitement of today's match and recap all the action that went down! Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. Sri Lanka's decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired when they were met with an early onslaught by the New Zealand pacers. The Sri Lankan top-order batters were completely rattled by the fiery pace and accuracy of Matt Henry and Henry Shipley, and they lost three wickets in the first powerplay itself. It was a nightmare start for the island nation as Nuwanidu Fernando went back to the pavilion for just 2 runs, followed by the dismissals of Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews without even opening their accounts. The New Zealand pacers' impeccable line and length made life difficult for the Sri Lankan top-order, and they were left reeling at 18/3 in the 8th over. The Kiwi pacers' modus operandi was to induce edges, and all three dismissals were a result of batters nicking the ball to the slips.

With three wickets down, the visitors were in deep trouble, and they needed a solid partnership here, but it was Daryl Mitchell who broke a budding partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka and provided the fourth breakthrough to the hosts. Sri Lanka were in deep waters now, as they were four down for 49 in the 15th over of the innings. Daryl Mitchell continued to wreak havoc on the Sri Lankan batting line-up. In the 19th over of the innings, he picked up his second wicket as he trapped Dhananjaya de Silva at mid-off. With Sri Lanka now reduced to 70/5. 

Pathum Nissanka, who held the nerve from one end, batted with grit and determination and went on to complete his half-century. However, there was a big mix-up between him and Dasun Shanaka in the middle, resulting in the former being run-out. Nevertheless, he departed for a well-made 57 runs, which included eight boundaries and a maximum. Dasun Shanaka showcased his strokeplay skills and played some impressive shots but failed to capitalize on his good start. After scoring 31 runs, he threw away his wicket, which was a big blow to Sri Lanka's chances of posting a competitive total on the board.

Chamika Karunaratne fought hard to add some valuable runs with the bat for the visitors, but his innings came to an end when Matt Henry sent a searing delivery that nipped back and caught the inside edge of his bat. The ball carried straight to the wicketkeeper, and Karunaratne had to walk back to the pavilion after scoring a gritty 24 runs. The wicket marked Henry's third scalp of the day, and he had been instrumental in keeping the Sri Lankan batting lineup in check throughout their innings. Eventually, Sri Lanka were bundled out for a mere 157 runs. 

The Kiwi bowlers were exceptional with the ball, executing their plans to perfection and restricting the Sri Lankan batters to a modest total of 157 runs. Matt Henry, Henry Shipley, and Daryl Mitchell were the stars with the ball, as they picked up three wickets each, dismantling the Sri Lankan top and middle-order. Their precision with the ball was impeccable as they consistently hit the right line and length and kept the pressure on the Sri Lankan batters. In addition to their impressive bowling, the Kiwis also picked up a crucial wicket in the form of a run-out, highlighting their brilliance in the field as well.