Sport

Black Caps hold on for series win over Sri Lanka

20:22 pm on 31 March 2023

Will Young top scored for the Black Caps Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Black Caps have wrapped up the one-day series against Sri Lanka with a six wicket win in Hamilton.

Chasing a low total of 158 for a 2-0 series win, New Zealand made hard work of their innings.

Top-order batter Will Young's return to the ODI squad proved a success as the he guided New Zealand to victory when the openers failed.

Young scored an unbeaten 86 and combined with Henry Nicholls (44 not out) in a 100 run fifth wicket partnership that sealed the win with 17 overs to spare.

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first - a decision which saw the visitors lose three wickets in the opening eight overs.

Four of Sri Lanka's top five batters fell for single figures while opener Pathum Nissanka twice successfully reviewed "out" decisions in the powerplay, before progressing to 57 off 64 balls.

Captain Dasun Shanaka offered some fight, reaching 31 but Sri Lanka's low total seemed unlikely to trouble the Black Caps who had won 10 of their last 12 completed ODIs at Seddon Park.

Matt Henry, Henry Shipley and Daryl Mitchell all took three wickets each in the dismantling of Sri Lanka's batting order.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka switch to the T20 format with the opening game of the three match series in Auckland on Sunday.