By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka produced a clinical all-round performance in trouncing New Zealand by 140 runs in the third and final ODI to stopping the hosts clean sweep thrust in a 2-1 series loss at Eden Park, Auckland on Sunday having run up 290 for 8 wickets in 50 overs in taking first lease on the luck of the coin and bundling out the opposition for 150 runs in just 29.4 overs following a three pronged fiery pace-spin bowling display by strike bowler pacer Asitha Fernndo 3 for 26 haul off 7 overs, Maheesh Theekshana 3 for 35 and newcomer Eshan Malinga getting into business with 3 for 36 returns in breaking the backbone of the hosts batting in a 5 for 21 ruin in the power play in a 6.5 over strike following the Lankan run charge led by Pathum Nissanka who struck 66 off 42  from which they never recovered. 

Nissanka pounded 5 over the top and 6 across in carting the Kiwi attack at will in blazing to his half century in 33 balls before a groin injury forcing him to retire with the score 66 having dominated that run spree with his opening partner Asitha Fernando just into double figures at the time. He was to return later in adding a further 16 while the Lankan run orgy was in the shape of Kusal Mendis 54 off 48 with 5 boundaries and 2 over the top and Kamindu Mendis 46 off 71 with 3 over the top and 2 across followed by No.6 Janith Liyanage stroking a run a ball 53 with 3 boundaries and 2 over the top with the only blemish being skipper Charith Asalanka falling for a duck with opener Asitha Fernando 17 and Chamindu Wickramasinghe 19 off 31 lower down in sending one over the top. Wanindu Hasaranga added his sixer hitting flair with 2 over the top in making 15 off 9.

The havocking of the New Zealand innings was triggered by Maheesh Theekshana, hot on the heels of his hat-trick performance in the previous game of the valiant in a contest lost, as he removed Will Young for a duck off the fourth delivery of the second over having him caught by Asitha Fernando having faced eight deliveries in a 1 for 3 decimation which was followed by Fernando clean bowling Rachin Ravindra for 1 off 5 four balls later – New Zealand 2 for 4 after 2.2 overs.

Second change Eshan Malinga, in his second ODI appearance, made it count getting into business accounting for the third Kiwi casualty Daryl Mitchell for 2 caught by M.N.K. Fernando. 

By the 13th over New Zealand had flopped to 7 for 77 with only No.3 Mark Chapman in a lone battle final run a ball 81 with Asitha Fernando making a double strike in the space of three balls without a run added sending back Tom Latham fourth ball without scoring picked up by Hasaranga, and Glenn Phillips caught by Kamindu Mendis  third ball also for a duck with only ninth man Michael Bracewell  the only other batsman to reach double figures after Chapman whose knock contained 10 boundaries and a six.

CHIEF SCORES 

Sri Lanka 290/8 (50 Overs)

 (Pathum Nissanka 66, Kusal Mendis 54, Janith Liyanage 53, Kamindu Mendis 46, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 19, Wanindu Hasaranga 15, Avishka Fernando 17, Maheesh Theekshana n.o. 11, Eshan Malina n.o. 1, Matt Henry 4/55, Mitchell Santner 2/55, Michael Bracewell 1/45, 

Nathan Smith 1/62)

New Zealand 150 (29.4 Overs) 

(Mark Chapman 81, Michael Bracewell 13, Asitha Fernndo 3/26, Maheesh Theekshana 3/35, Eshan Malinga 3/36)