NZ vs SL: Will Young propels New Zealand to emphatic series victory against Sri Lanka
New Zealand completed a resounding series victory against Sri Lanka after a comfortable victory against the visitors in the third and final ODI of the series. It was another horrible batting performance by the Asian outfit, which ended their hopes of direct qualification to this year’s 50-over World Cup in India.
It was Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka, who won the toss and elected to bat first in the series decider after the second ODI was abandoned due to persistent rain. It was another hapless showing by the Sri Lankan batters as the visitors lost half their side inside the first 20 overs of the match on a lively surface in Hamilton.
Kusal Mendis and Angelo Matthews departed without opening their accounts as the Kiwi pacers ran riot with the new ball. Opener Pathum Nissanka, who registered a fighting half-century, departed in the 24th over to wreck Sri Lanka’s hopes of compiling a competitive score on the board. Skipper Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne did show some resistance, but it wasn’t enough, as the tourists folded for a modest total of 157 runs.
Will Young’s fluent half-century takes his side home after a wobbly start
Chasing a below-par total, the home side got off to a turbulent start as Sri Lankan speedster Lahiru Kumara dismissed both the Kiwi openers in the second over of the chase. New Zelaand’s start got worse when skipper Tom Latham’s dismissal made it 59/4 inside the first 15 overs of the second innings.
With his side in a perilous position, middle-order batting ace Will Young put on his game face and stitched an invaluable 100-run stand for the fifth wicket with Henry Nicholls to take his side home comfortably. Will Young’s unbeaten 86-run knock earned him the player of the match award, while the impressive Kiwi pacer Henry Shipley was named the player of the series for his haul of eight wickets in two matches.
Sri Lanka’s defeat ends their hopes of direct qualification for the ODI World Cup later this year. The Asian side will now need to participate in a ten-team tournament to secure their qualification berth, commencing in June later this year.
