New Zealand Dominates Sri Lanka: Matt Henry’s Bowling Brilliance and Will Young’s Unbeaten 90 Lead to ODI Series Victory
CricketPanditMatt Henry took 4 for 19 as New Zealand bowled Sri Lanka out for 178 and chased down the modest total in just 26.2 overs, thanks to a blistering unbeaten 90 from Will Young, giving them an early lead in the ODI series. On a Basin Reserve pitch that provided early help to the bowlers, New Zealand won a crucial toss, took charge from the start, and kept the opposition under pressure throughout the match.
Although Sri Lanka hasn’t qualified for next month’s Champions Trophy, they entered this series with strong ODI form, having won five of the six series they played in 2024. However, eleven of their twelve victories last year came at home, and the conditions in Wellington were quite different from those that had helped them regain their ODI confidence. New captain Mitchell Santner won an important toss and made no mistakes thereafter, as Sri Lanka found themselves at 23 for 4 within the first 10 overs.
Henry opened the floodgates in the fifth over when Pathum Nissanka offered a simple catch to mid-off while trying to flick a full delivery. In the very next over, Jacob Duffy had Kusal Mendis chopping onto his stumps. New Zealand complemented their bowling with excellent fielding, as Santner swooped in on a push-and-run from Kamindu Mendis and executed a direct hit at the bowler’s end for a sharp run-out. Santner also made a smart call with a DRS review in the following over, leading to Nathan Smith claiming the wicket of Charith Asalanka, who edged an attempted defensive shot to wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay.
Sri Lanka regrouped after the early collapse with an 87-run partnership between Avishka Fernando and Janith Liyanage. Fernando played aggressively to pull himself out of trouble, hitting Nathan Smith for a four and a six. Liyanage, at the other end, ramped Will O’Rourke for a four. The duo added another 11 runs off a Smith over as runs flowed at a healthy rate. Ultimately, the partnership was broken by the captain, who adjusted his length and had Liyanage miscue an attempted heave, departing for 36.
Fernando was dismissed for a solid 56 in the very next over, guiding a delivery from Smith straight to point. Sri Lanka managed to put together another 48-run partnership between Chamindu Wickramasinghe (22) and Wanindu Hasaranga (35), with Hasaranga hitting four boundaries and a six to contribute crucial runs from the lower order. Eventually, Henry returned to bowl in the 38th over and struck immediately, getting rid of Wickramasinghe. He took a wicket in each of his three remaining overs, finishing with four wickets as Sri Lanka was bowled out in the 44th over.
In reply, Young and Ravindra gave the hosts a rapid start, putting on 93 runs for the first wicket in just 12.3 overs. Ravindra was out for 45 off 36 balls, but Young continued, smashing 12 boundaries in his unbeaten 90 off 86 balls, completing the chase with more than 23 runs to spare.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 178 in 43.4 overs (Avishka Fernando 56, Janith Liyanage 36; Matt Henry 4-19) lost to New Zealand 180/2 in 26.2 overs (Will Young 90*, Rachin Ravindra 45) by nine wickets.
