HAMILTON (AFP) – New Zealand crushed Sri Lanka’s top order on Wednesday to win the rain-shortened second One-Day International in Hamilton by 113 runs and secure the series.
Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana scored a hat-trick as the home team produced 255-9 from 37 overs, while the tourists could only muster 142 all out from 30.2 overs in response.
It came after New Zealand’s facile nine-wicket win in Wellington, which put them ahead 2-0 in the series, with the third match scheduled for Saturday in Auckland.
Sri Lanka’s top order has performed poorly in both games.
They fell to 22-4 at Seddon Park, with little hope of achieving their goal of 256 in a match shortened to 37 overs apiece due to early rain.
Kaminu Mendis led the way with his best ODI performance of 64 off 66 balls, but Sri Lanka’s destiny was sealed by a superb sprinting catch by Daryl Mitchell from Will O’Rourke’s bowling.
Janith Liyanage’s 22 was the next greatest score in Sri Lanka’s chase, which was plagued by two run-outs and a succession of dangerous strokes that failed.
O’Rourke was too fast for the tail, collecting 3-31 from 6.2 overs, while Jacob Duffy was responsible for some of the early damage, taking 2-30, including the vital wickets of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis.
Earlier, recalled off-spinner Theekshana capitalized on some erratic New Zealand hitting to end with 4-44 from eight overs.
He dismissed Mitchell Santer and Nathan Smith with consecutive deliveries at the conclusion of the 35th over.
Matt Henry was caught off the first ball of the last over, completing his hat-trick, all of which came from mistimed lofted drives.
It helped to stave back a New Zealand innings that threatened to go over 300 as opener Rachin Ravindra stormed to 79 off 63 balls and Mark Chapman struck 62 off 52.
The pair put up 112 for the second wicket, which ended when Chapman holed out to long-off from Theekshana.
Ravindra fell shortly after, caught superbly at short cover by Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka off leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (2-39).
Mitchell scored 38 runs on 38 balls but battled for support late in the game.
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