Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis batted beautifully to set the tone for Sri Lanka as they beat New Zealand convincingly in the first ODI in Dambulla. The spinners spun a web around the New Zealand batters which ensured the hosts went 1-0 in the three-match series.
After opting to bat first, Pathum Nissanka started with three boundaries but he didn’t last long. He holed out at third-man, trying to slash one off Jacob Duffy. Debutant Nathan Smith took an excellent catch to give New Zealand their first wicket.
However, that was the only success that the Kiwis had for the next (nearly) 36 overs. Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis racked up hundreds and shared a mammoth 206-run stand for the second wicket.
The duo motored along nicely. Sri Lanka got to 57/1 at the end of the powerplay before getting to the 100-run mark in the 19th over. Both Fernando and Mendis went past their respective individual fifties and upped the ante as Sri Lanka took less than seven overs to go from 100 to 150.
Fernando was then dropped by Ish Sodhi when he was batting on 77. Apart from that, there was barely any trouble that the two batters faced. They milked the bowling with ease and were going at nearly a run-a-ball. Mendis raced to his 4th ODI ton and got to the landmark in 102 deliveries.
Fernando who was on 87 off 94 balls at one stage took 20 balls to reach his fourth ODI hundred. He was dismissed soon after he reached the milestone as he holed out to mid-on to give Ish Sodhi his first of the game.
Sadeera Samarawickrama didn’t last long but Mendis kept attacking. He found the boundary consistently. He found good company in skipper Charith Asalanka and the pair shared a 53-run stand.
Just when it looked like Sri Lanka may go past 335-340, New Zealand pulled it back slightly. Duffy got rid of Mendis for 143. A 15-run 49th over was one that gave the hosts some push as they got to 324/5 before the rain came.
Sri Lanka spinners dominate as New Zealand could never catch up with the required rate
It rained for nearly two hours and the game was then reduced to 27 overs. New Zealand were chasing a revised target of 221.
The New Zealand openers started decently. They were a little behind the asking rate (which was originally 8.18) but they stitched a solid 88-run stand. Both batters got boundaries regularly but the required run rate kept mounting up. That’s when the spinners feasted and ran through the New Zealand top six.
Maheesh Theekshana dismissed both set batters. He had Tim Robinson stumped for 35 before he knocked over Will Young for 48. Captain Asalanka came into the attack and took two wickets in as many overs. Henry Nicholls was bowled while Mark Chapman was caught at deep mid-wicket. Jeffrey Vandersay then had Glenn Phillips cutting one straight to point. From 88/0, New Zealand slipped to 110/5.
Michael Bracewell struck a few boundaries but it was never going to be enough as the required run rate kept soaring high. Dilshan Madushanka chipped in with three wickets towards the end and Sri Lanka eventually won by 45 runs.
After the T20I series ended in a draw (1-1), the hosts have taken a 1-0 lead in the ODI series. Sri Lanka will be eyeing an ODI series win against New Zealand after 12 years.
BRIEF SCORES: Sri Lanka 324/5 in 49.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 143, Avishka Fernando 100, Charith Asalanka 40, Jacob Duffy 3/41, Ish Sodhi 1/62) beat New Zealand in 27 overs (Will Young, 48, Tim Robinson 35, Maheesh Theekshana 2/32, Charith Asalanka 2/15) by .
