Gunathilaka was named Man of the Match for his quickfire innings of 65
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Sri Lanka batsmen Danushka Gunathilaka, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Lahiru Thirmanne scored 65, 91 and 87 respectively to lead their side to an eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the third ODI in Nelson.
Sri Lanka had to win this game to stay alive in the five-match series as New Zealand held a 2-0 lead coming into the match.
New Zealand stand-in captain Kane Williamson would have been pleased with his decision to bat first initially as openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham set a solid foundation with their knocks of 30 and 42 respectively.
Williamson led by example after Guptill and Latham were back in the pavilion as he made 59 off 73 balls, which included seven boundaries, before he was dismissed by Milinda Siriwardana.
Williamson made a gutsy 59
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
With New Zealand’s middle order failing to make any major contributions, it was thanks to Mitchell Santner’s 38 and Doug Bracewell’s 30 that the Black Caps were able to finish on 276/8 off their 50 overs.
Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera and Jeffrey Vandersay picked up two wickets apiece, while Siriwardana chipped in with one.
Chasing 277 to win, Sri Lanka got off to a blistering start as Gunathilaka and Dilshan amassed a 98-run partnership, during which Gunathilaka brought up his half-century, before he was caught by Ross Taylor at slip off the bowling of Mitchell McClenaghan.
Gunathilaka’s career-best knock of 65 came off 45 balls and included seven boundaries and four sixes.
Dilshan and Thirimanne kept the runs flowing with a 111-run stand, during which Dilshan surpassed his half-century, before he was run out by Taylor on 91, which came off 92 deliveries and included nine boundaries.
Dilshan (right) scored his 47th ODI fifty
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Dilshan’s wicket was to be New Zealand’s last taste of success as Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal finished things off with an unbeaten 68-run partnership, during which Thirimanne recorded his half-century.
Thirimanne ended up finishing on 87 off 103 balls, which included six boundaries and a six, while Chandimal remained undefeated on 27 off 39 deliveries, which included one boundary.
Thirimanne hit six boundaries and a six during his unbeaten knock of 87
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
McClenaghan was the only bowler to take a wicket.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was thrilled to have reduced the series deficit, and said: “A very satisfying and a much-needed victory which keeps us alive in the series. We bowled very well and kept them to a chaseable total. All out batters did very well after the humiliating and embarrassing first two ODIs. It was just change of attitude today. We didn’t do much right in the first two ODIs but we knew we were much better than that. We gave the license to our openers to go after the bowlers and Gunathilaka made use of that.”
Williamson was disappointed his side couldn’t take an unassailable 3-0 lead, and said: “We could have done it better but in the end it was not a bad total to defend and was probably par. We should have put up some better partnerships. The way we went about the first 10 overs (while bowling) was pretty poor and they batted very well. They kept us under the pressure by bowling well but moving forward we need small adjustments to improve.”
Gunathilaka was named Man of the Match, and said: “It was a good chance for me and happy to score some runs, I played my normal game. It will help my confidence well, getting the Man of the Match and my cheek/jaw is alright right now (He had injured himself while fielding).”