New Zealand's Matt Henry fielding during the third One Day International cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Eden Park in Auckland, on 11 January. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Black Caps have been handed a heavy defeat in a one-day cricket international against Sri Lanka at Eden Park.
The visitors won by 140 runs, dominating the match from the start scoring 290 for eight in their fifty overs, before bowling out New Zealand for just 150.
The result was a massive turnaround for the Sri Lankans, after they themselves were heavily beaten by New Zealand in the first two matches of the series.
Batting first after winning the toss, Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka quickly got into his work, with a powerful display of ball striking.
He top-scored with a swashbuckling 66 from just 42 balls, hitting 6 fours and 5 sixes.
Kusal Mendis, with 54, and Janith Liyanage, 53, were the other two Sri Lankans that hit half centuries, also at better than a run a ball.
New Zealand's bowling line-up not only found getting breakthroughs more difficult than in the first two matches, but also keeping the Sri Lankans scoring rate in check.
Matt Henry was the most successful Black Caps bowler, taking 4 for 55 from his ten overs, while captain Mitchell Santner picked up 2 for 55 from ten. Nathan Smith and Michael Bracewell were the other wicket takers.
New Zealand's run chase never got going, with opening bowlers Asitha Fernando (named player of the match) and Maheesh Theekshana ripping through New Zealand's top order.
They had the Blackcaps reeling at 21 for five inside seven overs, with Mark Chapman the only Black Caps batter to put up any resistance.
He finished with a fine 81 off 81 balls, before being the last man out.
Fernando, Theekshana and Eshan Malinga all finished with three wickets each for the Sri Lankans.
The result was a disappointment for New Zealand captain Santner: "Probably not the way we wanted to finish the series," he said to TVNZ.
"Credit to Sri Lanka for putting a score on the board, we thought was around par on a pretty good wicket.
"Then I guess the way they bowled at the start challenged us early, and it was pretty tough to come back from that."
Despite the loss, New Zealand still won the series 2-1, with Henry named player of the series for taking nine wickets in the three matches.
