SL in NZ: Black Caps win ODI series

New Zealand clinched the five-match ODI series 3-1 after beating Sri Lanka in the fifth and final match by 36 runs played at Mount Maunganui today (5).

Put into bat first New Zealand posted 294-5 and Sri Lanka were bowled out for 258 with 17 deliveries to spare. 

The player of the game was Matt Henry who took five important Sri Lankan wickets to help New Zealand record a crucial clinch the series. 

He claimed the wickets of opener Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Lahiru Thirimanne, skipper Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedara and Dushmantha Chameera to make Sri Lanka a weak side. 

Mathews top scored for the visitors playing an anchor role with a knock of 95 which came off 116 deliveries with six boundaries. 

Dinesh Chandimal hit a 65-ball 50 which included four boundaries and a six as allrounder Milinda Siriwardana hit a cameo 39 off 22 inclusive of three fours and two sixes. 

Trent Boult picked three wickets while Adam Milne and Mitchell Santner claimed a scalp each. 

Earlier opener Martin Guptill, continuing his usual form hammered 102 off 109 deliveries inclusive of nine boundaries and three sixes laying the foundation for New Zealand’s big total. 

Stand in skipper Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor hit identical knocks of 61 each.

Taylor faced 67 deliveries and hit four boundaries and a six while Williamson was rather cautious during his knock which came off 72 balls inclusive of seven fours. 

The two sides will meet in the two-match Twenty20 series with the first game set for Thursday (7) at Mount Manuganui followed by the second game next Sunday (10) in Auckland. 

New Zealand 294 for 5 wickets (50) (Martin Guptill 102, Kane Williamson 61, Ross Taylor 61, Luke Ronchi 37n.o, Mitchell Santner 21n.o, Nuwan Kulasekara 3/53)

Sri Lanka 258 all out (47.1) (Dhanushka Gunathilaka 15, Dinesh Chandimal 50, Angelo Mathews 95, Thissara Perera 15, Milinda Siriwardana 39, Nuwan Kulasekara 15, Matt Henry 5/40, Trent Boult 3/43)