Sri Lanka Triumphs Over New Zealand Despite Rain, Clinches Series

The third match of the ongoing ODI series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka was played at the Pallekele International Stadium. Mark Chapman scored 76 runs off 81 balls, and Mitchell Hay also contributed 49 runs with the bat off 62 balls. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field. New Zealand's batters could not play tick on Pallekele's batting-friendly wicket. From the beginning, the Sri Lankan bowlers kept the pressure on the batsmen. The result of which was that before 100 runs, New Zealand's four batters returned to the pavilion. After the interference of rain in the match, both innings were reduced to 47-47 overs. A partnership between Mark Chapman and Mitchell Hay did happen. But after that, Sri Lanka's bowlers did not let the New Zealand batsmen last.

New Zealand's team was all out for 209 runs. For Sri Lanka, Vandersay and Theekshana took 3-3 wickets. Sri Lanka's start to chase the score was also not something that was up to the mark. New Zealand's bowlers constantly kept pressure on Sri Lanka's batsmen and did not give a chance to score runs. Sri Lanka also got 5 batsmen out within 100 runs. But wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Mendis was still holding one end. Wickets kept falling from the other end, but Mendis continued to score runs for the team. At the end of the innings, Sri Lanka achieved the target of 210 runs with 1 over to go and 3 wickets remaining.

Sri Lanka has also made a record with this victory; it has not lost any series at home in 2024. Sri Lanka had not beaten New Zealand in any ODI series since 2012. But after 12 years, with this series win, Sri Lanka also broke this curse.