Kiwis accomplish 3-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka

World
Europe

New Zealand have beaten Sri Lanka in the third and final one-day international game to clinch a 3-0 clean sweep in the series on Tuesday. The Black Caps registered a comfortable 115-run victory in the match at Nelson to wrap up the series in style at home.

Earlier, the Lankans won the toss and elected to field first with three changes to their side. The home side faced an early jitter after losing both their openers cheaply. However, prolific batsman Ross Taylor joined hands with skipper Kane Williamson to steady the ship. Williamson made a flawless half-century before Taylor smashed a magnificent century.

New Zealand's Henry Nicholls (front) celebrates 100 runs with teammate James Neesham during the third ODI cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Saxton Field in Nelson, New Zealand, January 8, 2019. /VCG Photo

His cracking 137 off 131 was well complimented by Henry Nicholls's late onslaught on the Lankan bowlers. A swashbuckling Nicholls hit a power-packed unbeaten 124 off just 80 balls to guide the New Zealand total to 364 for 4 in the stipulated 50 overs.

Lankan bowling spearhead and skipper Lasith Malinga made a match haul of three wickets even though he failed to check the marauding Kiwi batters. In reply, the Sri Lanka batsmen couldn't quite live up to the challenge and a disciplined New Zealand bowling saw none of the visiting batsmen could put up a resistance.

Sri Lanka's captain Lasith Malinga (L) celebrates New Zealand's Martin Guptill being caught with teammate Danushka Gunathilaka during the third ODI cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Saxton Field in Nelson, New Zealand, January 8, 2019. /VCG Photo

After losing wickets in regular intervals, Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 249 in less than 42 overs. Paceman Lockie Ferguson bagged four wickets while spinner Ish Sodhi returned with three wickets as the Kiwis notched up yet another landslide win to clean up the series without losing a single game.

Quite interestingly, New Zealand made 300-plus scores in all the three ODIs in this series and comfortably won the first two games in Mount Maunganui.

Sri Lanka will now embark on a series against Australia, who were recently beaten 2-1 in a four-match Test series by India.