Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand by a commanding 45 runs in the rain-affected opening one-day international on Wednesday with to hundreds from Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando. Before rain interrupted play, Sri Lanka produced a dominant 324-5 in 49.2 overs, with 29-year-old Kusal hitting a career-best 143 and Avishka hitting 100. After a strong start, the Kiwis lost five wickets in less than five overs, adding only 22 runs.
With the dismissal of openers Will Young and Tim Robinson, who combined for 88 runs off of only 79 balls, Maheesh Theekshana set off the collapse.
After Kusal sharply stumped Robinson, Theekshana bowled Young four balls later to shift the tide in favor of Sri Lanka.
After then, the visitors had a difficult time since the other batsmen were unable to perform.
“When you lose two set guys, it can be difficult on these wickets,” Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, stated.
“We tried to keep firing shots, but if you lose wickets in clumps, it’s a challenge.”
In a previous match against New Zealand, Kusal and Avishka combined for the best second-wicket partnership in Sri Lankan ODI history, scoring 206 runs off 215 balls.
Sanath Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillakaratne set a record of 170 against the Black Caps in the 2003 World Cup in Bloemfontein, but their effort surpassed it by 21 years.
Sri Lanka batters shine
Additionally, it was the biggest partnership for any wicket in ODIs at Dambulla.
The captain of Sri Lanka, Charith Asalanka, stated, “I thought it will be tough for us (with the wet ball), and it also didn’t turn too much.”
“Avishka and Kusal batted really well and the best thing was that both of them scored hundreds.”
After a run of poor scores, it was Avishka’s first century since 2021, after a run of poor performances.
Kusal’s century was his first of the year and his fourth in ODIs.
His innings surpassed India’s Shikhar Dhawan’s 132 in 2017 to become the highest individual score at Dambulla.
Asalanka topped off an excellent day with the bat for the islanders by scoring a cameo 40 runs off only 28 balls.
Henry Nicholls caught Kusal at extra cover, and Jacob Duffy, a pacer from New Zealand, dismissed him.
Kusal hit 17 fours and two sixes in his quick 128-ball knock.
After Asalanka won the toss and chose to bat first, Sri Lanka’s hitters took charge.
Pathum Opener Kusal and Avishka fully capitalized on the circumstances, while an early dismissal sent Nissanka back for twelve.
The Sri Lankan batters kept the scoreboard moving at nearly 6.5 runs per over, and the New Zealand spinners found it difficult to contain them.
Just one ball into Sri Lanka’s innings, rain stopped play, resulting in a 39-minute delay. With four balls remaining in the Sri Lankan innings, the downpours returned.
