Player of the Match
Player of the Match

That was a clinical victory for Sri Lanka and a huge morale-booster for them. They were dominant from start to finish, outgunning New Zealand in their own backyard. New Zealand lost too many wickets during the powerplay and couldn't catch up, despite Mark Chapman fighting valiantly but he didn't get much support and it was always going to be a tough ask for the lower order. Thank you for your company throughout the series and have a great weekend!

Asitha Fernando, Player of the Match (Charith Asalanka is doing the translation for Asitha): It's a huge confidence boost for me and the team because we haven't had good first two games, but it feels good to play in this way. We identified few areas to be improved, and we'll work on those areas

Matt Henry, Player of the Series: It's a shame we didn't get over the line...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

Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka Captain: I think it's always great to make comeback like this. Unfortunately, we lost first two but the way boys played today, it was a pleasure to watch and really good. Few more areas to work with fast bowlers...must give credit to New Zelaand bowlers; they put us under pressure, but we'll continue to improve. Hospitality was really nice, and we thank New Zealand for their support.

Mitchell Santner, New Zealand Captain: Little disappointing, probably not the way we wanted to finish series. Credit to Sri Lanka; they put score on board, and they challenged us early and it was pretty tough to come back from there. They got the ball swinging and made it challenging. We did that throughout the series...I guess we will take it on the chin...a lot of positives from the series, guys playing their roles...the lads performed really well in the series against a very good team and the depth in their squad is outstanding. We go to Pakistan, and it will be a change of conditions so we'll prepare and adapt as best as we can

From Deep Gadhia: Biggest losing margins for New Zealand versus SL in ODIs

189 runs, Auckland 2007 140 runs, Auckland 2025 112 runs, Wankhede 2011

Only the second loss for New Zealand at home in ODIs since 2020

New Zealand at home since 2020

Matches - 20, Wins - 16, Loss - 2, NR - 2

8th consecutive ODI series win for New Zealand at home

They last lost a series at home to India in 2019

29.4
W
Theekshana to Chapman, OUT, There you go! Theekshana has the last laugh; second time he has taken a wicket after being slammed for a boundary in this innings. That was pushed full on sixth stump line outside off, he went down on one knee and tried to slog it over midwicket, got the toe-end and ended up making a mess of his stumps. Handshakes all-around as Sri Lanka have ticked all the boxes in this game and put up a strong show. Win by a whooping 140 runs! Mighty impressive comeback. Stellar lone-ranger work from Chapman; kept them in the hunt and the game could have gone down to the wire had New Zealand kept a few wickets but they couldn't recover from the early wobble in the powerplay; the dent was too big

MS Chapman b Theekshana 81 (143m 81b 10x4 1x6) SR: 100

RiwajAdhikari: "Okay I have been a SL fan ever since I know cricket. And honestly with their history as a touring team overseas, I didn't give them a chance this series expecting them to be rolled over 6-0 across formats. So I am extremely pleased with how they have performed in the two final matches of the tour."

29.3
4
Theekshana to Chapman, FOUR, Not going down without some entertainment, drops short on off, sashayed across his stumps and whacks it with gusto behind square leg for a blistering boundary!

Rajeev: "Not a terrible tour for SL, especially when comparing with their previous tours after 2015. If they could hold onto the 1st T20I and won it (it was their game until last few overs), it would have been even better."

29.2
0
Theekshana to Chapman, no run, Oh how on Earth it missed hitting the off? Tries to boom the shorter dipper to midwicket, trying a slog and missed it altogether

Abdul Samad: "I don't think anyone noticed but O'Rourke came out with 2 left handed gloves lol"

29.1
0
Theekshana to Chapman, no run, Around the wicket, wide of the crease, pushed on a length wide of off, thumped to sweeper cover

END OF OVER:
29 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | NZ: 146/9 (145 runs required from 21 overs, RR: 5.03, RRR: 6.90)

  • Will O’Rourke1 (3b)
  • Mark Chapman77 (77b)
  • Eshan Malinga7-1-35-3
  • Maheesh Theekshana7-0-31-2
28.6
0
Malinga to O'Rourke, no run, This time he gets it right and gets the same response from the batter, quick learning and practice of bumper during the game, this was angled on middle

Udesh: "We read cricinfo live coverage specially when the live commentary in Sinhala language. Plenty will agree to this. love you cricinfo ."

28.6
1w
Malinga to O'Rourke, 1 wide, Hurls down a snorter but not quite directed where he wanted, swirls away from leg-stump, wide signaled as the batter ducked
28.5
1
Malinga to Chapman, 1 run, Good length and outside leg-stump, whipped away to deep square
28.4
1
Malinga to O'Rourke, 1 run, Tries again, not quite into the blockhole, waits and drags it along the floor to square leg for a single
28.3
0
Malinga to O'Rourke, no run, Pinpoint accurate yorker on middle and leg reminding me of Lasith Malinga. Batter did well to flick it to midwicket
28.2
W
Malinga to Henry, OUT, Stumps shattered, what a sight for the bowler. What do we know? Explains why Chapman was not keen on rotating the strike. But it was a magnificent slow delivery that danced in the air and pegged him back, he lunges at it and couldn't get behind the line. Beautiful off-cutter that totally caught him off-guard. Entertaining brief innings

MJ Henry b Malinga 12 (11m 6b 1x4 1x6) SR: 200

Tautoru: "Not sure how NZ managed to throw this away on a good batting surface in their own back yard. Lots of credit to the SL bowlers as well as superb fielding and catching. "

28.1
1
Malinga to Chapman, 1 run, Over the wicket, back of a length, angling in middle, plays with the inward nibble towards midwicket with soft hands

END OF OVER:
28 | 2 Runs | NZ: 142/8 (149 runs required from 22 overs, RR: 5.07, RRR: 6.77)

  • Mark Chapman75 (75b)
  • Matt Henry12 (5b)
  • Maheesh Theekshana7-0-31-2
  • Eshan Malinga6-1-31-2
27.6
1
Theekshana to Chapman, 1 run, Fuller and veering into middle and leg, opens the face and prodded away to long-off
27.5
0
Theekshana to Chapman, no run, Good length angling into middle and leg, worked off the backfoot to midwicket inside the ring, not taking the run. Too early to deny the runs and farm the strike in my view
27.4
0
Theekshana to Chapman, no run, Back of a length, turning away from wide of off, makes some room and cross-bat short but can't get it past cover
27.4
1w
Theekshana to Chapman, 1 wide, Short and outside the tramline on off, doesn't follow it, wide signaled
27.3
0
Theekshana to Chapman, no run, Good length on leg, shimmies down leg and goes back, dragging it down to long-on; denies the single
27.2
0
Theekshana to Chapman, no run, Tossed and jagging into middle, tucked off his pads to short midwicket region

Kabilesh : "No live telecast in Srilanka so we are enjoying it through cricinfo. Thank you guys." You can count on us

27.1
0
Theekshana to Chapman, no run, Around the wicket, length and dipping onto his pads, swivels and cuffs it to deep square's left

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st3WA YoungR Ravindra
2nd1MS ChapmanR Ravindra
3rd16DJ MitchellMS Chapman
4th1TWM LathamMS Chapman
5th0MS ChapmanGD Phillips
6th27MG BracewellMS Chapman
7th16MS ChapmanMJ Santner