New Zealand is on the brink of a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the ongoing One-Day International (ODI) series, having already taken a commanding 2-0 lead. The third and final ODI is set to take place at Eden Park in Auckland on January 11, 2025.
This series marks the conclusion of Sri Lanka’s white-ball tour to New Zealand. While the hosts aim to secure a 3-0 series win, Sri Lanka will be eager to salvage pride with a victory before heading back home.
In the second ODI in Hamilton, New Zealand capitalized on Sri Lanka’s faltering batting lineup to secure a dominant win in a rain-affected contest. The Kiwis batted first and followed up with a successful chase in the first game. Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, their batting collapsed under pressure in both encounters, with Kamindu Mendis being the only player to show resistance.
In the previous match, Mendis fought valiantly, scoring 64 off 66 balls, but lacked support from his teammates. A promising partnership between him and Chamindu Wickramasinghe ended abruptly due to a costly mix-up. From that point, Mitchell Santner and William O’Rourke dismantled the lower order, supported by sharp fielding from Daryl Mitchell and Nathan Smith. The match ended with a convincing 113-run victory for New Zealand.
New Zealand’s innings in the rain-shortened game were anchored by a 112-run partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman, both of whom scored fifties. Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner provided valuable contributions. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers fought back in the death overs. Maheesh Theekshana’s sensational hat-trick, along with wickets from Wanindu Hasaranga, Asitha Fernando, and Eshan Malinga, kept the Kiwis from running away with the total.
Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a disastrous start, losing wickets in quick succession during the Powerplay. Their top order failed to withstand the Kiwi pacers, with Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry delivering fiery spells. Despite a 57-run stand between Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka couldn’t recover from the early damage.
New Zealand now holds an unassailable 2-0 lead, showcasing a dominant all-round performance. With Mitchell Santner celebrating his first ODI series win as captain, the final match will determine whether New Zealand achieves a whitewash or Sri Lanka regains some pride.