Witless batting, a clinical performance by New Zealand’s fast bowlers and a fast start from Martin Guptill featured in Sri Lanka’s final heavy defeat of the tour. Their embarrassment was enhanced a little by Colin Munro, who bludgeoned the second-fastest half-century in T20Is to close out a match that had never really been in doubt for New Zealand. Sri Lanka has been knocked off their top spot in the ICC T20I rankings as they failed to win a single game in the series. Here is a review of Sri Lanka’s performance on this tour to the picturesque country.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-47014" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kane-Williamson-BJ-Walting-New-Zealand-win-v-Sri-Lanka-2nd-Test.jpg" alt="New Zealand v Sri Lanka 2nd Test" width="640" height="426" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47014" class="wp-caption-text">(© Getty Images)</figcaption>

Loose bowling on day one and cautious batting on days two and three paved Sri Lanka’s path to defeat said Angelo Mathews, after the 1st Test in Dunedin. Sri Lanka had let New Zealand advance at 4.48 runs and over in the first innings, before batting at 2.50 themselves. Overall, Sri Lanka batted for 50.4 overs more than New Zealand, yet lost by 122 runs. Each of New Zealand’s batsmen who crossed 25 batted at a strike rate of at least 66, Sri Lanka&#8217;s half-centurions struck at less than 45. New Zealand hit 64 boundaries in the 96.1 overs they faced. Sri Lanka struck half that amount from 117.1 overs.

The three frontline seamers, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera, went for more than four runs an over in the first innings, where only Rangana Herath maintained an economy rate of less than three. After the home side scored 431 at about 4.5 runs per over, a solid 84 from Dimuth Karunaratne led the reply but it fell largely short, despite Dinesh Chandimal’s vigil-like 83, to hand over a 137-run lead.

Chasing a target of 405, Sri Lanka held fort before yielding, the floodgates being opened by Neil Wagner. Half-centurion Chandimal and opener Kusal Mendis impressed with their gutsy batting but the Southee-Boult duo shared 5 wickets to ensure a 122-run win for the home team. Udara Jayasundera had a forgettable debut as he managed only scores of 1 and 3 from the two innings.

Mathews had described the second-innings collapse on day three as a “mockery,” after Sri Lanka went on to lose the Hamilton Test by five wickets. His team had a lead of 126 with all second-innings wickets intact but lost 10 wickets for 62 inside a 14-over period either side of lunch on day three to give the hosts a target of 189 which they achieved after losing 5 wickets. With the ball, Dushmantha Chameera had a match to remember. He had been particularly effective for Sri Lanka with the bouncer, picking up his first five-wicket haul in the first innings, and taking 9 for 115 in the match.

In the first innings, all of Sri Lanka’s recognized batsmen got starts but failed to convert those to into a substantial score barring Matthews (77) and Milinda Siriwardana (62). In the second innings, only 3 batsmen registered double digits- Karunaratne (27), Kusal Mendis (46) and Siriwardana (26). The short ball was used brilliantly by the home team to rattle the islanders. Two batsmen were dismissed after gloving bouncers behind the wicket, as they attempted to fend balls away.

Mathews and Kusal Mendis were caught hooking, Milinda Siriwardana was out playing the pull shot, Dinesh Chandimal was caught flicking off his hips to leg gully, and Kithuruwan Vithanage carved a short and wide delivery to third-man. Sri Lanka will need to improve their handling of the short ball if the young team is to win overseas Tests.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-47691" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sri-Lankan-cricketer-Kusal-Perera-GettyImages-495632128.jpg" alt="Kusal Perera" width="640" height="426" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47691" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Perera. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Sri Lanka hasn’t enjoyed a great tour, but it’s been a far worse time for a player who never made the trip. Kusal Perera was ruled out of the touring party when he tested positive for a banned substance in an ICC doping test, and now the Sri Lankan sports ministry has reported an alleged fixing approach made to Perera and another Sri Lanka player to the country’s Financial Crimes Investigation Department. Perera absence was felt in the ODI series.

In the first two matches at Christchurch, the visitors were bundled out for 188 and 117 thereby ensuring one-sided contests. Batting was a major worry for the team. Only Siriwardana (66) and bowler Nuwan Kulasekara (58) made substantial contributions in the first match. It was Matt Henry who troubled the batsmen taking 4 wickets in each of the two matches. The home side finished the first match in 21 overs while the other one lasted just 8.2 overs as the Lankan bowlers were hammered to all parts of the ground by the home side’s top order batsmen.

Sri Lanka came back strongly in Nelson after the humiliation suffered in Christchurch. Pradeep, Chameera, and Jeffrey Vandersay took 2 wickets each as the home side posted 276-8 in the 3rd ODI. Chameera was the most impressive bowler conceding just 3.80 runs per over from his 10 overs. Attacking opener Danushka Gunathilaka impressed with his knock of 65 while veteran Dilshan made a brilliant 91 off 92. Thirimanne (87*) and Chandimal (27*) completed a perfect day for the visitors as they overhauled the target in 46.2 overs. The fourth game was rain affected and lasted only 9 overs before being called off.

New Zealand sealed a 3-1 one-day series win against Sri Lanka with a Martin Guptill century helping them to a 36-run victory at Mount Maunganui. The Black Caps scored 294/5 with Guptill hitting 102 before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 258. Kulasekara took 3 wickets while Chameera was once again economical. Mathews hit 95 but they lost their last five wickets for just 35 runs in six overs.

Chandimal made 50 while Siriwardana contributed 39 however the team got bowled out in 47.1 overs. The batsmen failed to see them over the line in what should have been an achievable target on a batting paradise. Matt Henry, Sri Lanka’s nemesis who was rested for the 3rd ODI, returned with figures of 5/50 to give him 13 wickets in the series.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/01/New-Zealand-gather-in-a-huddle-during-the-second-T20-GettyImages.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-49827"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-49827" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/New-Zealand-gather-in-a-huddle-during-the-second-T20-GettyImages.jpg" alt="New Zealand" width="640" height="420" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-49827" class="wp-caption-text">New Zealand. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Chasing New Zealand’s 182 for 4, Sri Lanka fell three short to record their sixth loss in eight matches on the tour. With overs from their frontline bowlers exhausted, New Zealand was forced to turn to Grant Elliott’s gentle seamers to defend 13 runs from the last over in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Mount Maunganui. He took one wicket &#8211; which was followed by a run-out &#8211; and conceded only nine runs with his mixture of yorkers and slower balls. Sri Lanka’s chase seemed to have run aground at 42 for 4 at the end of the fifth over, before Milinda Siriwardana and Danushka Gunathilaka resurrected it. Their 40s were ultimately futile.

Sri Lanka rifled through their attack at the start, trying four different bowlers in the first four overs, but each failed to contain Martin Guptill. At the end of the fourth over New Zealand were 49 for 0 and Guptill made 32 off 13. The leg spin of Jeffrey Vandersay was particularly effective in the middle period &#8211; his three-over spell costing only 18. Kulasekara&#8217;s 19th over cost only five runs and he took a wicket. He finished with Sri Lanka’s best figures of 2 for 26, and later threatened to play a winning hand with the bat, but was one of Elliott&#8217;s victims in the final over, having hit 14 from 10.

An abject Sri Lankan collapse full of witless batting, a clinical performance by New Zealand’s seamers, and a blazing start from Guptill, all featured in Sri Lanka’s final heavy defeat of the tour. <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/facts-about-colin-munro/" target="_blank">Colin Munro</a> bludgeoned the second-fastest half-century in T20Is to close out a match that had never really been in doubt for New Zealand. Sri Lanka’s 142 for 8 on a flat Eden Park track, and on one of the smallest grounds in the world, was gunned down with nine wickets and ten full overs to spare.

New Zealand put zippy balls just short of a length &#8211; a clear bowling plan, given the ground’s odd dimensions &#8211; and the visitors just failed to adapt. Grant Elliott was the most accurate bowler, and took 4 for 22 from his full quota, but so intent did Sri Lanka&#8217;s batsmen seem on holing out, almost anyone could have taken those wickets.

Angelo Mathews played a familiar lone hand for his team. His 81 not out from 49 balls comprised well over half of the team’s score. He was the only batsman to attempt to build an innings, instead of bash one. Danushka Gunathilaka aimed an ungainly heave across the line soon that brought his downfall as the stumps were uprooted.

Dilshan played his own ugly innings, mistiming, top-edging slogs, and missing attempted scoops over the shoulder. He was out reverse-sweeping for 28 from 26 balls. Dinesh Chandimal and Shehan Jayasuriya were caught attempting expansive strokes. Mathews might have expected a little help for rebuilding from Kithuruwan Vithanage and Thisara. They were both caught at the straight boundary for single figure scores, off Elliott’s bowling.

Witless batting, a clinical performance by New Zealand’s fast bowlers and a fast start from&nbsp;Martin Guptill featured in Sri Lanka’s final heavy defeat of the tour. Their embarrassment was enhanced a little by&nbsp;Colin Munro, who bludgeoned the second-fastest half-century in T20Is to close out a match that had never really been in doubt for New Zealand. Sri Lanka has been knocked off their top spot in the ICC T20I rankings as they failed to win a single game in the series. Here is a review of Sri Lanka’s performance on this tour to the picturesque country.
<h4>Tests:</h4>
<figure id="attachment_47014" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47014" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-47014" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kane-Williamson-BJ-Walting-New-Zealand-win-v-Sri-Lanka-2nd-Test.jpg" alt="New Zealand v Sri Lanka 2nd Test" width="640" height="426" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47014" class="wp-caption-text">(© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Loose bowling on day one&nbsp;and cautious batting on days two and three paved Sri Lanka’s path to defeat&nbsp;said&nbsp;Angelo Mathews, after the 1st Test in Dunedin. Sri Lanka had let New Zealand advance at 4.48 runs and over in the first innings, before batting at 2.50 themselves. Overall, Sri Lanka batted for 50.4 overs more than New Zealand, yet lost by 122 runs. Each of New Zealand’s batsmen who crossed 25 batted at a strike rate of at least 66, Sri Lanka’s half-centurions struck at less than 45. New Zealand hit 64 boundaries in the 96.1 overs they faced. Sri Lanka struck half that amount from 117.1 overs.
The three frontline seamers, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera, went for more than four runs an over in the first innings, where only&nbsp;Rangana Herath&nbsp;maintained an economy rate of less than three. After the home side scored 431 at about 4.5 runs per over, a solid 84 from Dimuth Karunaratne led the reply but it fell largely short, despite Dinesh Chandimal’s vigil-like 83, to hand over a 137-run lead.
Chasing a target of 405, Sri Lanka held fort before yielding, the floodgates being opened by Neil Wagner. Half-centurion Chandimal and opener Kusal Mendis impressed with their gutsy batting but the Southee-Boult duo shared 5 wickets to ensure a 122-run win for the home team. Udara Jayasundera&nbsp;had a forgettable debut as he managed only scores of 1 and 3 from the two innings.
Mathews had described the second-innings collapse on day three as a “mockery,” after Sri Lanka went on to lose the Hamilton Test by five wickets. His team had a lead of 126 with all second-innings wickets intact&nbsp;but lost 10 wickets for 62 inside a 14-over period either side of lunch on day three to give the hosts a target of 189 which they achieved after losing 5 wickets. With the ball, Dushmantha Chameera had a match to remember. He had been particularly effective for Sri Lanka with the bouncer, picking up his first five-wicket haul in the first innings, and taking 9 for 115 in the match.
In the first innings, all of Sri Lanka’s recognized batsmen got starts but failed to convert those to into a substantial score barring Matthews (77) and Milinda Siriwardana (62). In the second innings, only 3 batsmen registered double digits- Karunaratne (27), Kusal Mendis (46) and Siriwardana (26). The short ball was used brilliantly by the home team to rattle the islanders. Two batsmen were dismissed after gloving bouncers behind the wicket, as they attempted to fend balls away.
Mathews and Kusal Mendis were caught hooking, Milinda Siriwardana was out playing the pull shot, Dinesh Chandimal was caught flicking off his hips to leg gully, and Kithuruwan Vithanage carved a short and wide delivery to third-man. Sri Lanka will need to improve their handling of the short ball if the young team is to win overseas Tests.
<h4>ODIs:</h4>
<figure id="attachment_47691" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47691" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-47691" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sri-Lankan-cricketer-Kusal-Perera-GettyImages-495632128.jpg" alt="Kusal Perera" width="640" height="426" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47691" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Perera. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Sri Lanka hasn’t enjoyed a great tour, but it’s been a far worse time for a player who never made the trip. Kusal Perera was ruled out of the touring party when he tested positive for a banned substance in an ICC doping test, and now the Sri Lankan sports ministry has reported an alleged fixing approach made to Perera&nbsp;and another Sri Lanka player to the country’s Financial Crimes Investigation Department. Perera absence was felt in the ODI series.
In the first two matches at Christchurch, the visitors were bundled out for 188 and 117 thereby ensuring one-sided contests. Batting was a major worry for the team. Only Siriwardana (66) and bowler Nuwan Kulasekara (58) made substantial contributions in the first match. It was Matt Henry who troubled the batsmen taking 4 wickets in each of the two matches. The home side finished the first match in 21 overs while the other one lasted just 8.2 overs as the Lankan bowlers were hammered to all parts of the ground by the home side’s top order batsmen.
Sri Lanka came back strongly in Nelson after the humiliation suffered in Christchurch. Pradeep, Chameera, and Jeffrey Vandersay took 2 wickets each as the home side posted 276-8 in the 3rd ODI. Chameera was the most impressive bowler conceding just 3.80 runs per over from his 10 overs. Attacking opener Danushka Gunathilaka impressed with his knock of 65 while veteran Dilshan made a brilliant 91 off 92. Thirimanne (87*) and Chandimal (27*) completed a perfect day for the visitors as they overhauled the target in 46.2 overs. The fourth game was rain affected and lasted only 9 overs before being called off.
New Zealand sealed a 3-1 one-day series win against Sri Lanka with a Martin Guptill century helping them to a 36-run victory at Mount Maunganui. The Black Caps scored 294/5 with Guptill hitting 102&nbsp;before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 258. Kulasekara took 3 wickets while Chameera was once again economical. Mathews hit 95 but they lost their last five wickets for just 35 runs in six overs.
Chandimal made 50 while Siriwardana contributed 39 however the team got bowled out in 47.1 overs. The batsmen failed to see them over the line in what should have been an achievable target on a batting paradise. Matt Henry, Sri Lanka’s nemesis who was rested for the 3rd ODI, returned with figures of 5/50 to give him 13 wickets in the series.
<h4>T20Is:</h4>
<figure id="attachment_49827" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-49827" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/01/New-Zealand-gather-in-a-huddle-during-the-second-T20-GettyImages.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-49827"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-49827" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/New-Zealand-gather-in-a-huddle-during-the-second-T20-GettyImages.jpg" alt="New Zealand" width="640" height="420" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-49827" class="wp-caption-text">New Zealand. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Chasing New Zealand’s 182 for 4, Sri Lanka fell three short to record their sixth loss in eight matches on the tour. With overs from their frontline bowlers exhausted, New Zealand was forced to turn to Grant Elliott’s gentle seamers to defend 13 runs from the last over in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Mount Maunganui. He took one wicket – which was followed by a run-out – and conceded only nine runs with his mixture of yorkers and slower balls. Sri Lanka’s chase seemed to have run aground at 42 for 4 at the end of the fifth over, before Milinda Siriwardana and Danushka Gunathilaka resurrected it. Their 40s were ultimately futile.
Sri Lanka rifled through their attack at the start, trying four different bowlers in the first four overs, but each failed to contain Martin Guptill. At the end of the fourth over New Zealand were 49 for 0 and Guptill made 32 off 13. The leg spin of Jeffrey Vandersay was particularly effective in the middle period – his three-over spell costing only 18. Kulasekara’s 19th over cost only five runs and he took a wicket. He finished with Sri Lanka’s best figures of 2 for 26, and later threatened to play a winning hand with the bat, but was one of Elliott’s victims in the final over, having hit 14 from 10.
An abject Sri Lankan collapse full of witless batting, a clinical performance by New Zealand’s seamers, and a blazing start from&nbsp;Guptill, all featured in Sri Lanka’s final heavy defeat of the tour. <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/facts-about-colin-munro/" target="_blank">Colin Munro</a> bludgeoned the second-fastest half-century in T20Is to close out a match that had never really been in doubt for New Zealand. Sri Lanka’s 142 for 8 on a flat Eden Park track, and on one of the smallest grounds in the world, was gunned down with nine wickets and ten full overs to spare.
New Zealand put zippy balls just short of a length – a clear bowling plan, given the ground’s odd dimensions – and the visitors just failed to adapt. Grant Elliott was the most accurate bowler, and took 4 for 22 from his full quota, but so intent did Sri Lanka’s batsmen seem on holing out, almost anyone could have taken those wickets.
Angelo Mathews&nbsp;played a familiar lone hand for his team. His 81 not out from 49 balls comprised well over half of the team’s score. He was the only batsman to attempt to build an innings, instead of bash one. Danushka Gunathilaka aimed an ungainly heave across the line soon that brought his downfall as the stumps were uprooted.
Dilshan played his own ugly innings, mistiming, top-edging slogs, and missing attempted scoops over the shoulder. He was out reverse-sweeping for 28 from 26 balls. Dinesh Chandimal and Shehan Jayasuriya were caught attempting expansive strokes. Mathews might have expected a little help for rebuilding from Kithuruwan Vithanage and Thisara. They were both caught at the straight boundary for single figure scores, off Elliott’s bowling.

Witless batting, a clinical performance by New Zealand’s fast bowlers and a fast start from Martin Guptill featured in Sri Lanka’s final heavy defeat of the tour. Their embarrassment was enhanced a little by Colin Munro, who bludgeoned the second-fastest half-century in T20Is to close out a match that had never really been in doubt for New Zealand. Sri Lanka has been knocked off their top spot in the ICC T20I rankings as they failed to win a single game in the series. Here is a review of Sri Lanka’s performance on this tour to the picturesque country.
<h4>Tests:</h4>
<figure id="attachment_47014" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47014" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-47014" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kane-Williamson-BJ-Walting-New-Zealand-win-v-Sri-Lanka-2nd-Test.jpg" alt="New Zealand v Sri Lanka 2nd Test" width="640" height="426" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47014" class="wp-caption-text">(© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Loose bowling on day one and cautious batting on days two and three paved Sri Lanka’s path to defeat said Angelo Mathews, after the 1st Test in Dunedin. Sri Lanka had let New Zealand advance at 4.48 runs and over in the first innings, before batting at 2.50 themselves. Overall, Sri Lanka batted for 50.4 overs more than New Zealand, yet lost by 122 runs. Each of New Zealand’s batsmen who crossed 25 batted at a strike rate of at least 66, Sri Lanka&#8217;s half-centurions struck at less than 45. New Zealand hit 64 boundaries in the 96.1 overs they faced. Sri Lanka struck half that amount from 117.1 overs.
The three frontline seamers, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera, went for more than four runs an over in the first innings, where only Rangana Herath maintained an economy rate of less than three. After the home side scored 431 at about 4.5 runs per over, a solid 84 from Dimuth Karunaratne led the reply but it fell largely short, despite Dinesh Chandimal’s vigil-like 83, to hand over a 137-run lead.
Chasing a target of 405, Sri Lanka held fort before yielding, the floodgates being opened by Neil Wagner. Half-centurion Chandimal and opener Kusal Mendis impressed with their gutsy batting but the Southee-Boult duo shared 5 wickets to ensure a 122-run win for the home team. Udara Jayasundera had a forgettable debut as he managed only scores of 1 and 3 from the two innings.
Mathews had described the second-innings collapse on day three as a “mockery,” after Sri Lanka went on to lose the Hamilton Test by five wickets. His team had a lead of 126 with all second-innings wickets intact but lost 10 wickets for 62 inside a 14-over period either side of lunch on day three to give the hosts a target of 189 which they achieved after losing 5 wickets. With the ball, Dushmantha Chameera had a match to remember. He had been particularly effective for Sri Lanka with the bouncer, picking up his first five-wicket haul in the first innings, and taking 9 for 115 in the match.
In the first innings, all of Sri Lanka’s recognized batsmen got starts but failed to convert those to into a substantial score barring Matthews (77) and Milinda Siriwardana (62). In the second innings, only 3 batsmen registered double digits- Karunaratne (27), Kusal Mendis (46) and Siriwardana (26). The short ball was used brilliantly by the home team to rattle the islanders. Two batsmen were dismissed after gloving bouncers behind the wicket, as they attempted to fend balls away.
Mathews and Kusal Mendis were caught hooking, Milinda Siriwardana was out playing the pull shot, Dinesh Chandimal was caught flicking off his hips to leg gully, and Kithuruwan Vithanage carved a short and wide delivery to third-man. Sri Lanka will need to improve their handling of the short ball if the young team is to win overseas Tests.
<h4>ODIs:</h4>
<figure id="attachment_47691" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47691" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-47691" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sri-Lankan-cricketer-Kusal-Perera-GettyImages-495632128.jpg" alt="Kusal Perera" width="640" height="426" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47691" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Perera. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Sri Lanka hasn’t enjoyed a great tour, but it’s been a far worse time for a player who never made the trip. Kusal Perera was ruled out of the touring party when he tested positive for a banned substance in an ICC doping test, and now the Sri Lankan sports ministry has reported an alleged fixing approach made to Perera and another Sri Lanka player to the country’s Financial Crimes Investigation Department. Perera absence was felt in the ODI series.
In the first two matches at Christchurch, the visitors were bundled out for 188 and 117 thereby ensuring one-sided contests. Batting was a major worry for the team. Only Siriwardana (66) and bowler Nuwan Kulasekara (58) made substantial contributions in the first match. It was Matt Henry who troubled the batsmen taking 4 wickets in each of the two matches. The home side finished the first match in 21 overs while the other one lasted just 8.2 overs as the Lankan bowlers were hammered to all parts of the ground by the home side’s top order batsmen.
Sri Lanka came back strongly in Nelson after the humiliation suffered in Christchurch. Pradeep, Chameera, and Jeffrey Vandersay took 2 wickets each as the home side posted 276-8 in the 3rd ODI. Chameera was the most impressive bowler conceding just 3.80 runs per over from his 10 overs. Attacking opener Danushka Gunathilaka impressed with his knock of 65 while veteran Dilshan made a brilliant 91 off 92. Thirimanne (87*) and Chandimal (27*) completed a perfect day for the visitors as they overhauled the target in 46.2 overs. The fourth game was rain affected and lasted only 9 overs before being called off.
New Zealand sealed a 3-1 one-day series win against Sri Lanka with a Martin Guptill century helping them to a 36-run victory at Mount Maunganui. The Black Caps scored 294/5 with Guptill hitting 102 before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 258. Kulasekara took 3 wickets while Chameera was once again economical. Mathews hit 95 but they lost their last five wickets for just 35 runs in six overs.
Chandimal made 50 while Siriwardana contributed 39 however the team got bowled out in 47.1 overs. The batsmen failed to see them over the line in what should have been an achievable target on a batting paradise. Matt Henry, Sri Lanka’s nemesis who was rested for the 3rd ODI, returned with figures of 5/50 to give him 13 wickets in the series.
<h4>T20Is:</h4>
<figure id="attachment_49827" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-49827" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/01/New-Zealand-gather-in-a-huddle-during-the-second-T20-GettyImages.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-49827"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-49827" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/New-Zealand-gather-in-a-huddle-during-the-second-T20-GettyImages.jpg" alt="New Zealand" width="640" height="420" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-49827" class="wp-caption-text">New Zealand. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Chasing New Zealand’s 182 for 4, Sri Lanka fell three short to record their sixth loss in eight matches on the tour. With overs from their frontline bowlers exhausted, New Zealand was forced to turn to Grant Elliott’s gentle seamers to defend 13 runs from the last over in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Mount Maunganui. He took one wicket &#8211; which was followed by a run-out &#8211; and conceded only nine runs with his mixture of yorkers and slower balls. Sri Lanka’s chase seemed to have run aground at 42 for 4 at the end of the fifth over, before Milinda Siriwardana and Danushka Gunathilaka resurrected it. Their 40s were ultimately futile.
Sri Lanka rifled through their attack at the start, trying four different bowlers in the first four overs, but each failed to contain Martin Guptill. At the end of the fourth over New Zealand were 49 for 0 and Guptill made 32 off 13. The leg spin of Jeffrey Vandersay was particularly effective in the middle period &#8211; his three-over spell costing only 18. Kulasekara&#8217;s 19th over cost only five runs and he took a wicket. He finished with Sri Lanka’s best figures of 2 for 26, and later threatened to play a winning hand with the bat, but was one of Elliott&#8217;s victims in the final over, having hit 14 from 10.
An abject Sri Lankan collapse full of witless batting, a clinical performance by New Zealand’s seamers, and a blazing start from Guptill, all featured in Sri Lanka’s final heavy defeat of the tour. <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/facts-about-colin-munro/" target="_blank">Colin Munro</a> bludgeoned the second-fastest half-century in T20Is to close out a match that had never really been in doubt for New Zealand. Sri Lanka’s 142 for 8 on a flat Eden Park track, and on one of the smallest grounds in the world, was gunned down with nine wickets and ten full overs to spare.
New Zealand put zippy balls just short of a length &#8211; a clear bowling plan, given the ground’s odd dimensions &#8211; and the visitors just failed to adapt. Grant Elliott was the most accurate bowler, and took 4 for 22 from his full quota, but so intent did Sri Lanka&#8217;s batsmen seem on holing out, almost anyone could have taken those wickets.
Angelo Mathews played a familiar lone hand for his team. His 81 not out from 49 balls comprised well over half of the team’s score. He was the only batsman to attempt to build an innings, instead of bash one. Danushka Gunathilaka aimed an ungainly heave across the line soon that brought his downfall as the stumps were uprooted.
Dilshan played his own ugly innings, mistiming, top-edging slogs, and missing attempted scoops over the shoulder. He was out reverse-sweeping for 28 from 26 balls. Dinesh Chandimal and Shehan Jayasuriya were caught attempting expansive strokes. Mathews might have expected a little help for rebuilding from Kithuruwan Vithanage and Thisara. They were both caught at the straight boundary for single figure scores, off Elliott’s bowling.

Sri Lanka’s performance review on the New Zealand tour

ICC T20I rankings as they failed to win a single game in the series. Here is a review of Sri Lanka’s performance on this tour to the picturesque country.