By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka’s hopes of a historic maiden series triumph that dangled on a 1-all pre match hype to the crunch third and final decider in New Zealand’s backyard at Dunedin yesterday were dashed by a rain wash out no result ultimate 1-all tie with the hosts, put into bat, on 101 for 3 wickets in 14.1 overs

Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and put in the hosts in to bat on the verve of a comprehensive 7-wicket hammering of the New Zealanders in the opening game in great expectations of breaking the deadlock following the Kiwi lasses comeback similar evening up in the next one.
Nevertheless, Sri Lanka’s initial facile triumph had generated much of the Lankan dream hype of a landmark series ecstasy that was to soon evaporate in lengthy rain stoppages with the umpires finally abandoning the game with the hosts on 101 after 14.1 overs.

Athapaththu finished player of the series with scores of 64 not out and 23 and bowling returns of 1-10, 0-19 and 1-19.

No result – New Zealand 101 for 3 (Plimmer 46*, Bates 31, Athapaththu 1-19) against Sri Lanka