New Zealand crush Sri Lanka by 113 runs in 2nd ODI to win series

AFP | Hamilton

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NewZealan dripped through Sri Lanka’s top order yesterday to win the rain-reduced second one-day international in Hamilton by 113 runs and clinch the series.

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana took a hat-trick as the home side posted 255-9 off 37 overs, but the tourists could only muster 142 all out off 30.2 overs in response.

It followed New Zealand’s comfortable nine-wicket win in Wellington to go 2-0 up in the series, with the third match to be played in Auckland on Saturday.

Sri Lanka’s top order has misfired badly in both games.

They slumped to 22-4 at Seddon Park, leaving little chance of reaching their target of 256 in a match reduced to 37 overs each because of early rain. Kaminu Mendis top-scored with his ODI best of 64 off 66 balls, but fell to a spectacular running catch from Daryl Mitchell from the bowling of Will O’Rourke to seal Sri Lanka’s fate.

Janith Liyanage’s 22 was the next best score in a Sri Lanka chase marred by two run-outs and a series of risky shots that didn’t pay off.

O’Rourke was too quick for the tail, taking 3-31 off 6.2 overs while Jacob Duffy was responsible for some of the early damage, claiming 2-30, including the key scalps of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Men-dis.