New Zealand celebrate after beating Sri Lanka 3-1
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New Zealand opener Martin Guptill scored a scintillating century to lead his side to a 36-run win over Sri Lanka in the fifth and final ODI at Mount Maunganui and a 3-1 series win.
Guptill received some excellent support from stand-in captain Kane Williamson and batsman Ross Taylor as they both made 61 runs.
However, Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal deserve some credit as well as they made 95 and 50 respectively.
Mathews would have been pleased to field first early on as New Zealand opener Tom Latham was caught behind off the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep for a duck.
However, New Zealand responded with a 122-run partnership between Guptill and Williamson, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before Williamson was caught behind off the bowling of Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Williamson’s brilliant innings of 61 came off 72 balls and included seven boundaries.
Williamson’s superb form with the bat continued
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Guptill and Taylor kept the runs flowing with an 81-run stand, during which Guptill registered his 10th ODI century, before he was on his way back to the pavilion a short while later.
Guptill’s superb knock of 102 came off 109 deliveries and included nine boundaries and three sixes.
Guptill scored his 10th ODI century
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Henry Nicholls was removed two overs later for just two runs before Taylor was dismissed for 61 off 67 balls, which included four boundaries and a six.
Taylor made his 32nd ODI fifty
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Thanks to Guptill, Williamson and Taylor, New Zealand finished on 294/5 off their 50 overs.
Nuwan Kulasekara was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Pradeep and Dilshan chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 295 to win, Sri Lanka lost their top order in quick succession before they were buoyed by Mathews and Chandimal.
Chandimal ended up making 50 off 65 balls, which included four boundaries and a six before he was caught by Wiliamson off the bowling of Trent Boult.
Chandimal made a gutsy 50
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Despite losing Chandimal and a number of partners at regular intervals, Mathews continued to lead the front as he kept Sri Lanka’s innings alive.
However, the tourists’ hopes of registering a spectacular come-from-behind series win were shattered when Mathews was dismissed just five agonising runs short of his second ODI century. Once Mathews was gone, Sri Lanka fell apart and were bowled out for 258.
Mathews’ valiant innings of 95 came off 116 balls and included six boundaries.
Mathews fell five runs short of his second ODI century
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Matt Henry starred with the ball as he claimed a five-wicket haul, while Boult snapped up three wickets and Adam Milne and Mitchell Santner claimed one wicket each.
Henry finished with figures of 5-40 off his 10 overs
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Henry edged out Guptill for the Man of the Match award.