Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis, left, shakes arms with Maheesh Theekshana after defeating New Zealand’s within the second ODI cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, on Sunday (November 17, 2024).
| Picture Credit score: AP
Kusal Mendis hit a affected person 74 not out as Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by three wickets below the DLS methodology with six balls remaining on Sunday (November 17, 2024) within the rain-hit second ODI.
Sri Lanka took an unassailable 2-0 lead within the three-match sequence with the ultimate recreation additionally at Pallekele on Tuesday (November 12, 2024). Sri Lanka gained the primary one-day worldwide by 45 runs — additionally by DLS — after rain disrupted that recreation at Dambulla.
It was Sri Lanka’s fifth ODI sequence win at residence in 2024 after it had crushed Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, India and West Indies. Sri Lanka couldn’t qualify for subsequent 12 months’s Champions Trophy after ending ninth ultimately 12 months’s 50-over World Cup in India, however has since then misplaced only one ODI sequence in Bangladesh whereas successful 5 at residence.
“It’s actually robust for batters to attain runs right here,” Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka mentioned. “That is simply one other sequence. As a crew, we’re transferring in direction of an enormous purpose and we have now to attain that, this can be a course of.”
Mendis adopted his career-best 143 within the sequence opener with a decided 102-ball knock as Sri Lanka reached 210-7 in 46 overs.
The match was reduce to 47 overs-a-side after two rain interruptions when New Zealand batted and was bowled out for 209 in 45.1 overs. Sri Lanka was set a goal of 210.
Off-spinner Michael Bracewell’s first four-wicket ODI haul (4-36) gave New Zealand a sniff when Sri Lanka slipped to 163-7 earlier than Maheesh Theekshana (27 not out) shared a match-winning 47-run stand with Mendis and carried the crew residence.
Earlier, Sri Lanka grassed a couple of onerous possibilities however Avishka Fernando took three spectacular catches after Asalanka gained the toss and elected to area.
Mark Chapman ended his struggling batting type with 76 off 81 balls, however his dismissal within the thirty seventh over would see New Zealand lose its final six wickets for 36 runs. Mitchell Hay made a properly composed 49 off 62 balls and shared a 75-run stand with Chapman. Hay was the final man to be dismissed.
New Zealand struggled in opposition to a four-pronged spin assault with Theekshana (3-31) and Jeffrey Vandersay (3-46) sharing six wickets. Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, the one change Sri Lanka made out of the crew which gained the primary recreation, and Asalanka took one wicket every.
Bracewell mopped up the highest order however Mendis stood agency as he accomplished his half century off 84 balls with 4 boundaries. He added 39 runs with Janith Liyanage and one other 31 with Wellalage, who struck three successive boundaries in his 18-run knock in opposition to Nathan Smith earlier than holing out at mid-on to offer Bracewell his fourth wicket.
However Theekshana confirmed some aggression in opposition to tempo, slicing quick bowler Jacob Duffy for the one six within the Sri Lanka chase and in addition struck two boundaries.
“It’s all the time a problem if you end up defending a low rating,” New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner mentioned. “Kusal performed the state of affairs very properly … that partnership (between Kusal and Theekshana) on the finish took it away, however we additionally left a couple of runs on the market.”
Printed – November 18, 2024 04:06 am IST
