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Asitha's brilliant newball spell & 3 rapid fifties give SL a consolation victory

New Zealand 150 (Chapman 81, Asitha 3-26, Malinga 3-35, Theekshana 3-35) was defeated by Sri Lanka 290 for 8 (Nissanka 66, Kusal 54, Liyanage 53, Henry 4-55, Santner 2-55) by 140 runs.

Asitha Fernando's brilliant new-ball performance destroyed New Zealand's chase after quick half-centuries from Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, and Janith Liyanage set Sri Lanka on track to a sizable total.

During his opening five-over burst, Asitha took 3 for 17 with a brilliant swing of the ball. New Zealand was 22 for 5 at the end of over seven, with 291 needed to win, their hopes all but gone. Despite having no teammates to accompany him, Mark Chapman fought valiantly for a run-a-ball of 81.

Although the final ceremonies took a while, Sri Lanka was able to eliminate the opposition for 150 in 30 overs as New Zealand quickly fell to 48 for 6 and then 77 for 7. The series' third one-sided game was this one. Both had been won by New Zealand.

Asitha struggled with his lines at times, so his 3 for 26 wasn't exactly a swing-bowling masterclass. However, he gained a lot more swing than any other bowler in the game, so there were some amazing deliveries. Asitha angled the ball over the left-hander and got it to tail in very late to slide between bat and pad, and it was a brilliant ball that removed Rachin Ravindra's leg stump. He had that form to his deliveries during that new-ball spell. In the eighth over, he removed Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham for ducks with two of his strikes.

Eshan Malinga and Maheesh Theekshana both took wickets at the other end, eliminating Daryl Mitchell and Will Young, respectively. Each of these three bowlers ultimately claimed three wickets. The best of their final figures was Asitha's.

Malinga bowled probing lines and swung the ball, though not as much as Asitha. Earlier in the game, when the New Zealand spinners were picking their way through Sri Lanka's middle order, they had also enjoyed the pitch that Theekshana got out of. Despite this, Matt Henry was still the most effective, taking 4 for 55 in his ten overs. Henry had played a key role in increasing pressure through the middle overs as well, but three of those wickets came at the end.

However, Nissanka and Kusal's fifties were the first components of Sri Lanka's 140-run triumph. Nissanka's score of 66 off 42 was remarkable. After reaching 50 off the 31st delivery he played, he seemed to strain a hamstring during that run and departed the field at the end of the tenth over. In order to salvage what had otherwise been a modest trip for him, Kusal then took his position at the crease and ripped off 54 off 48.