Sri Lanka end 10-year drought to win first ODI in New Zealand since 2015

The Sri Lankan cricket team ended its 10-year drought of going winless in ODIs in New Zealand after they defeated the hosts by 140 runs in the third and final ODI of the three-match series on January 11 (Saturday) at Eden Park in Auckland. 

This was Sri Lanka’s first ODI win in the Kiwi nation since 2015 when New Zealand and Australia hosted the ODI World Cup. Since 2015, Sri Lanka toured New Zealand on three occasions before the latest tour. But in all three attempts (three matches in 2019, two each in 2016 and 2023), they remained winless. 

Thus, Sri Lanka's win comes after nine consecutive ODI losses against the Blackcaps in New Zealand. 

Asitha Fernando turned out to be the hero for the islanders, who bundled out the hosts for a meagre 150 after having put on 290/8 of their own. Fernando finished with figures of 3/26, with all his wickets coming inside the first seven overs of the New Zealand innings. 

Earlier, riding on the back of fifties from Pathum Nissanka (66), Kusal Mendis (54) and Janith Liyanage (53) and an important contribution from Kamindu Mendis (46), the visitors managed to post 290/8. They then reduced the Kiwis to 48/6 in the first 13 overs before Mark Chapman provided some respectability to the total with his brilliant 81. 

Despite the heavy loss, the Mitchell Santner-led Kiwis pocketed the ODI series 2-1, having won the T20Is by a similar margin and in a similar fashion, winning the first two matches and losing the last one.