The third and final ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka had its own set of thriller defining moments. While Sri Lanka put up a solid display with the bat amidst an onslaught from the Blackcaps bowlers. A special moment in the match came up when Matt Henry pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss Charith Asalanka on a duck.
Matt Henry’s boundary-line heroics stunned Charith Asalanka
New Zealand tightened their grip on the 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka with a brilliant display in the field, highlighted by Michael Bracewell‘s clever bowling and Henry’s athleticism. In the 29th over, Bracewell dismissed Sri Lankan captain Asalanka with a well-executed delivery. Asalanka attempted a lofted shot towards long-off, where Henry completed an outstanding catch.
Running to his right, Henry took the catch near the boundary, flicked the ball into the air as he approached the cushions, and then came back onto the field to complete the catch on the second attempt. It was a crucial wicket as Asalanka fell for a duck after facing five balls, leaving Sri Lanka in trouble.
Here’s the video
🗣️”Matt Henry’s taken a ripper!”
Outstanding work on the boundary from the Canterbury quick and the third Sri Lanka wicket falls LIVE and free in NZ on TVNZ DUKE and TVNZ+. #NZvSL #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/7elOufEY6H
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 11, 2025
Also WATCH: Nathan Smith plucks a screamer to dismiss Eshan Malinga in NZ vs SL 2nd ODI
Sri Lanka put up a respectable total
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Their decision proved worthy with Pathum Nissanka giving the visitors a flying start, smashing 66 runs off just 42 balls, including six fours and five sixes. However, wickets kept falling for the visitors at regular intervals. Avishka Fernando, struggling for fluency, scored 17 off 33 balls before being caught by Mark Chapman off Nathan Smith. The Sri Lankan innings, which had started brightly, lost momentum as the game progressed.
Kusal Mendis played a vital knock of 54 off 48 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, but his dismissal by Mitchell Santner derailed Sri Lanka’s progress. Kamindu Mendis tried to stabilize the innings with 46 runs off 71 deliveries, but his slow scoring rate added pressure on the middle order. He eventually fell to Henry, who proved to be the star bowler for New Zealand with four wickets.
Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order showed glimpses of resistance. Janith Liyanage scored a valuable 53 off 52 balls, including three fours and two sixes, but his dismissal came at a critical juncture. With Liyange’s dismissal, Matt Henry completed 150 wickets in ODI format becoming second-fastest bowler from New Zealand to reach this milestone, just behind Trent Boult, who managed it in 81 innings. Henry managed to pull off this remarkable individual achievement in 83 innings for the Blackcaps.
Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with 19 and 15 runs, respectively, before Henry returned to clean them up. Maheesh Theekshana remained unbeaten on the crease at the end of the innings. Sri Lanka made 290/8 in their 50 overs.
New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Henry’s four-wicket haul, played a crucial role in restricting Sri Lanka after a blazing start by the top order. Santner and Bracewell supported him well, picking up two wickets each.
Also WATCH: Maheesh Theekshana lights up Seddon Park with a brilliant hat-trick in the Hamilton ODI
Source link
