Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, NZ in SL, 3 ODIs, 2024 Full score card

Full and outside off, turning away from the batter, Young leans forward and sweeps it all along the ground towards short fine leg but it gets cut off by the fielder positioned there.

A bit quicker, full and on the pads, Young brings out the sweep but picks out the man at short fine leg.

Short and it turns towards the batter, Nicholls rocks back and taps it towards square leg for a single.

Loopy delivery, on a fullish length, on off, Young plays the reverse paddle. It rolls in front of short third and the batters complete a quick single.

Full and onto leg stump, Nicholls tries to sweep it but wears it on the pads off the inside edge and collects a single.

Tossed up, full and on off, Young eases the drive to long off for a single.

This is fired in a bit and outside off, Nicholls blocks it off. 11 off the over!

FOUR! Oh, that is poor fielding from Dilshan Madushanka. Tossed up on the pads, Henry Nicholls goes down to sweep and does so a bit aerially and well behind square leg. The ball goes on the bounce to deep backward square leg but Madushanka gets completely bamboozled by the spin.

Floated up on a length and on off, Will Young waits back and punches it off the middle of the bat down to long on for one more.

Drops the length back and angles it into the pads, this is worked away 'round the corner for a single.

FOUR! Finally, a boundary! Darted in full on middle, Henry Nicholls clears the front leg and gets down on one knee before slogging it away well in front of square for a boundary after 50 deliveries.

Nagging length on off, Young dabs the reverse sweep just wide of short third for a single.

Nagging length, sliding on from off and middle, pushed away with a straight bat towards mid off.

Tossed up on middle and leg, Nicholls looks to step out but has to just push it back to the bowler.

Excellent running! Fuller on leg, Nicholls nudges it in between square leg and mid-wicket and picks up a couple of runs.

Pushed through quicker around off, Young rocks back and cuts it almost too late but gets it past backward point for a single.

Nicely played and Will Young brings up a 9th ODI FIFTY! Flatter delivery around off, Young backs away well and punches it square through cover-point for a couple of runs. He will now eye a big one from here.

Tossed up, quite full and around off, driven straight back to the bowler.

Sees the batter stepping out and tries to flight it wide of the off stump, Nicholls does well to adjust and blocks it off.

On a dragged length again and at the stumps, Young eases it off the back foot down to long on for one more and moves on to 49.

Sloppy fielding yet again! Flighted up, full and around off, Will Young brings out the reverse and gets it just wide of short third where the fielder slides across and lets it through for a couple of runs.

Nagging length, floated up on off, Will Young opts to go on the back foot and jams it out to mid-wicket.

Shortish length again around middle, this is punched away firmly off the back foot down to long on for a single.

Round-arm delivery, just a touch short and sliding on from around middle, Nicholls rocks back to defend.

Drinks break! Sri Lanka have done well to regain control through spin from both ends, following a wayward start from their pacers that allowed New Zealand to get off to a brisk start. Young and Nicholls have found it tough to find the boundaries against the spinners but it will be important for both to not get bogged down and keep the scoreboard ticking with ones and twos. The overhead conditions remain gloomy, but let’s hope the rain stays away as it has so far.

Shortens the length now and bowls it at the stumps, Henry Nicholls plays it off the back foot and hits it back past the bowler for yet another single.

Floated up full on off and middle, this is driven down to long off for just one more by Young.

Nagging length in and around the off pole, Will Young blocks it out. The boundaries have completely dried up here.

This is drifted down the leg side, Henry Nicholls brings out the paddle sweep and gets it down to fine leg for a single.

Good running! Full and straight, pushed back past the howler towards mid on for a quick single.

Gets a good hand on it does Sadeera Samarawickrama. Full and on the legs, Henry Nicholls flicks it wide of short mid-wicket where the fielder makes a half stop and they get a single.

Full again on off and middle, angling in, Young gets on the front foot and pushes it towards mid on. Young seems to have gone into his shell now.

Nicely flighted, full and turning in from outside off, Young defends it well on the front foot.

Good length around off, Young leans on and dabs it to the right of the bowler who makes the stop.

NOT OUT! The double review doesn't work out for Sri Lanka as Will Young survives. Nicely bowled by Charith Asalanka, low-arm trajectory, flatter and skidding on from outside off. Young is drawn forward a bit but then has to reach for it and is beaten past the outside edge. The bails are whipped off as well but the replays show that Young had dragged his foot back in time. No spike on UltraEdge either.

Has Young edged it? The keeper and Charith Asalanka are confident and Asalanka has taken the review. Stumping will be checked first. Nishan Madushka was quick to take the bails off but the replays show that Young had his back leg inside the crease when the stumps were disturbed. Over to the caught behind appeal now. The UltraEdge shows no spike. It will stay NOT OUT!

Dragged length on middle, sliding back on with the arm, Nicholls presses back and pushes it through mid on for one.

This is flighted and angled well into the pads, Henry Nicholls flicks it away well past square leg and picks up a couple of runs.

Excellent over from Vandersay and the Lankan spinners are starting to tighten the screws. Tossed up quite full and around off, Will Young keeps it out.

Not all that full and flighted up around off, Will Young is drawn forward and just pushes it gently towards mid off.

Nagging length, drifted into the pads, Young looks to work it off the back foot but gets tangled and gets hit on the pads.

Nicely bowled! Tossed up, quite full, right in the blockhole and this one dips as well, Will Young digs it out on the off side but just.

Fuller in length and around off, Nicholls jams the drive out wide of covers and collects a single.

Nicely tossed up around middle, Nicholls opts to step out but does so quite late and has to adjust and just block it out.

On a dragged length, sliding on from middle and leg, Nicholls presses back and punches it through mid on for a single.

Pushed through quicker and darting it in from around off, Nicholls with a solid block off the front foot.

Floated, full and on the stumps, Will Young brings out the reverse sweep and dabs it wide of short third for a quick single.

Just a smidge fuller and outside off, slanting it back in, Young steps across to block but gets an outside edge down to short third.

Nicely slowed up, flighted on off and this one drifted back in late, Will Young does well to play it late and keeps it out.

Pushed through flatter and well outside off, Nicholls gets down to sweep and has to reach for it but manages to angle it behind square leg for one.

On the money from Jeffrey Vandersay! Nagging length, darting it in at the off pole, Young prods halfway and blocks it off.

Floated up on the pads and turning in, Nicholls steps out and plays it with the turn towards wide long on for another single.

Tossed up again, on off and this is driven away through covers for a single by Young.

Nice and full, drifted into middle and leg and getting it to dip and turn as well, Will Young blocks it on the full.

Uppishly but in the gap and the 50-run stand also comes up between these two. Nagging length on middle, holding in the deck, Nicholls with a checked drive off the back foot down to long on for a single.

Begins with a full ball on leg stump, Henry Nicholls looks to flick but misses and gets struck on the pads.

Jeffrey Vandersay comes into the attack, replacing Mohamed Shiraz.

Flat again and on middle, turning a tad as well, Nicholls uses the depth of the crease to punch it down to long on for a run.

Flatter again, bowled in line with the stumps, Nicholls tucks it away towards mid-wicket.

Slip in place and Theekshana now comes around the wicket as well but it is the double bluff as this is darted in at the pads. Nicholls plays all over it and gets hit on the pads, stifled appeal for LBW but clearing angling down.

Pushed through quicker now and it is the carrom ball that moves away from middle, Will Young rocks back and punches it back past the bowler for a single down to long on.

On a dragged length on off and turning back into the pads, Young nudges it around the corner but straight to short fine leg.

Slows it up and drifts it in from around middle, Young leans on and just blocks it to the on side.

Nagging length, attacking the off stump line, Nicholls solidly blocks it off the front foot. 12 off that over.

FOUR! Nicely done but that was begging to be hit. Fractionally short around middle and angling in, Nicholls gets inside the line and shovels it well behind square leg for another boundary. New Zealand really racing along here.

Pitched-up delivery on middle, this one straightens down the line, Young leans on and pushes the ball down to long on for a single.

Hard length around off, Young stays back and jams the ball into the outfield and gets it past the diving man at point for a couple of runs more.

FOUR! That is glorious from Will Young. Predictable full length from Mohamed Shiraz and Young just gets forward and punches it with a straight bat through mid off for a stellar boundary.

Sloppy fielding! Pitches the ball up outside off and angles it back in, Henry Nicholls with a cover drive towards Nuwanidu Fernando who lets it through for a single.

Powerplay 2! Sri Lanka are now allowed as many as four fielders outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over. Dark clouds loom ominously over the ground, prompting the floodlights to be switched on. Roshan Abeysinghe mentions that it looks threatening at the moment.

This stays a bit low, on a nagging length, around off, Young pats it back to the bowler.

Short and on off, Young gets on top of it and punches it to backward point.

Sprayed on the pads, on a nagging length, Young gets inside the line and tickles it to the right of short fine leg for a couple of runs.

Pushed through, at the stumps, on a nagging length, Young is equal to the task as he gets deep in the crease to keep it out.

Sliding on with the angle from around the wicket at 91 kph, on middle, on a length, Nicholls jabs at the delivery with a straight bat. It catches the inside edge and rolls towards square leg for a single.

Floated up, full and around off, Young gets his front foot across and knocks it down to long on for a single.

Angled back in again, on a length, on the pads, Henry Nicholls clips it well but picks out the man at mid-wicket. A tidy return to the attack for Shiraz. Just a single off the over.

Bowled from slightly wide of the crease on the around-the-wicket angle, on a nagging length, on off and middle, Henry Nicholls nudges it off the back foot to mid-wicket.

Hurls it on a short of a good length, outside off, Young opens the bat face to steer it down to deep third for a single.

Slanting into the pads, too straight, on a length, Young misses the tickle. The ball brushes his pad and rolls behind to the left of the keeper.

Angling back into the right-hander, on off, on a length, Young wrists it to mid-wicket.

Shiraz lands it on a back of a length, outside off, the ball stays a bit low. Young stays low with the bounce and taps it to backward point.

Well then, the sun seems to have disappeared behind the clouds now and a huge dark cloud is now hovering over the ground. Ominous signs these!

This is a bit quicker, full and on off, Henry Nicholls pushes it to cover.

On a nagging length, around off, Henry Nicholls knocks it off the back foot to point.

FOUR! Dilshan Madushanka should have done better there! Pushed through, full and on middle, Henry Nicholls gets inside the line of the ball nice and early. Uses the pace to paddle it to the right of short fine leg. Madushanka moves to his right and dives over the ball. The ball goes under his body for a boundary.

Drops it short and around off, Henry Nicholls goes on the back foot and punches it down the deck. Theekshana dives to his right to make the stop.

Flatter and fuller, on off, Henry Nicholls reaches out in front for the sweep. Gets it finer than he intended. It goes to the right of short fine leg for a couple of runs. The 50 comes up for New Zealand!

On a length, around off from around the wicket, Henry Nicholls presses forward to defend.

First signs of spin as Maheesh Theekshana is tossed the ball now.

FOUR! Delightful! Chamindu errs in line and length as he bowls it short and wide on off, Will Young stays on the back foot and plays it late to get the placement right. Dabs it to the left of backward point and also beats deep third to his right for another boundary.

On a length, on off, Young defends it down the deck.

FOUR! Short and punished! Pace taken off by Chamindu, at 113 kph, on a short of a length, on off, Young picks the change of pace and waits for the ball to arrive. Pulls it well over wide mid on. Does not quite get it from the middle of the bat but it is enough for a boundary.

Chamindu bangs it on a back of a length, on middle, Henry Nicholls hops and nudges it through square leg for a single.

At 134 kph, on a nagging length, on middle, Henry Nicholls skips down the track and goes for a swipe across the line. The ball goes under his bat and Nicholls wears it near the waist.

Lands it on a good length, on middle and leg, Henry Nicholls blocks it out solidly with a straight bat.

FOUR! Two in two for Young! Shiraz drags his length back but ends up offering width on off, Young hangs on the back foot and plays it square of the wicket. Punches it into the ground and it goes through cover-point for four more runs. Young moves to 22 off 21.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Full and swinging away slightly, on off, Young does not move his feet much and lets his hands flow into the shot. Just times the drive and beats the diving Charith Asalanka at mid off to his left for a boundary. First boundary conceded by Shiraz.

With an upright seam, full and on off, driven firmly with a straight bat by Young but Shiraz sticks out his right hand in his follow through and makes a half stop.

Serves it fuller in length, on off, Young eases the drive to mid off.

Goes past the bat! In the channel on off, on a good length, Young waits for the ball to come to him and tries to defend it with a straight bat right under his eyes. The ball holds its line and zips past the outside edge.

On a nagging length, on middle, Henry Nicholls pushes it with soft hands in front of mid on and calls Young through for a quick single.

Attacking the front pad, on a good length, Henry Nicholls plants his front foot across and gets his bat out in front of the front pad. Clips it to the left of mid on and takes a quick single.

At 135 kph, on a fullish length, at the stumps, Henry Nicholls brings his bottom hand into play and drives it to mid on.

The length is pulled back now by Chamindu, on off, Henry Nicholls gets on the front foot and blocks it out.

Very full with a bit of late shape back towards the batter, Henry Nicholls works it away off his pads, wide of deep fine leg for another brace.

Chamindu goes searching for the swing but ends up serving a low full toss, on middle, Nicholls knocks it to the left of mid on and sets off for a single. Charith Asalanka moves to his left but fails to get low enough. He lets the ball through his legs, conceding another run.

Chamindu begins from over the wicket, full and on off, Henry Nicholls pushes it down the ground towards mid off.

The debutant, Chamindu Wickramasinghe comes on to bowl now.

Full and around off, Young keeps it out with a straight bat. End of a successful over for Shiraz and Sri Lanka.

On a good length, in and around the off stump line, Young gets behind the line of the ball and defends it back to the bowler.

Full and on off, Young eases the drive to cover.

On the pads, on a length, Henry Nicholls clips it wide of square leg and gets off the mark with a single.

Henry Nicholls walks in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! Spectacular catch from Asalanka! A maiden in the first over and now, a wicket on the second ball of his second over for Shiraz. This is bowled on a length, shaping back in on off, Tim Robinson goes for a lofted stroke down the ground but the ball coming back into him results in him not getting the elevation or the power behind the shot. It lobs towards mid off where Charith Asalanka reacts well as he leaps at an angle to his left and then rolls while tumbling to hold onto the catch.

Beaten! Full and going across, on off, Tim Robinson goes for an expansive drive but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Madushanka gets the ball to shape back in, on off, on a length, Young tries to drive it towards mid off but the bat turns in his hand. He miscues the shot to the right of the bowler. Another expensive over from Madushanka. His figures read 2-0-23-0.

Was that a chance? Yes, it certainly did. Full and at the stumps, Young checks the drive but fails to keep the shot along the ground. Hits low back towards the bowler. Madushanka gets low in his follow through to his right but fails to cling on. The ball hits his palm and pops out. Such catches are never easy though.

FOUR! Madushanka overcorrects and pays the price! Hat-trick of boundaries for Young. Madushanka bowls it short but does not get it high enough to trouble the batter, on middle and leg, Young stands tall and pulls it through square leg for yet another boundary.

FOUR! Nothing streaky about this one! Pitched up by Madushanka, on off, Young gets his weight on the front foot and leans into the drive. Plays it between cover and mid off for four more runs. This will help Young feel a lot better.

FOUR! Fortuitous boundary for Young! Stays over the wicket and gets the radar right this time does Madushanka, on a length, on off, Young is a bit tentative in his defence as he presents a straight bat. The ball catches the outside edge and races through the vacant slip cordon for a boundary.

Too straight from Dilshan, on the pads, on a length, Tim Robinson fails to tickle it away. A leg bye is taken as the ball brushes the pads and rolls down to deep fine leg.

This moves away slightly, on a length, outside off, Young gets his bat in the line of the ball and stabs it down on the off side. Shiraz starts with a maiden!

In and around the off-stump line, fuller in length, Young gets close to the line of the ball and pushes it to mid off.

Attacking the stumps, on a length, Will Young plays it back to the bowler off the front foot.

A loud shout for LBW but that seemed to be doing too much and going down leg! Late inward shape towards the batter, full and on middle and leg, Young's head falls over to the off side as he shapes up to flick it away. Gets beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the front pad.

Play and a miss! On a good length, outside off, Will Young tries to cash in on the width and extends his arms for the drive but gets beaten on the outside edge.

At 130 kph first up, a hint of inward movement, on off, on a length, Will Young presents a straight bat and keeps it out.

Mohamed Shiraz to bowl from the other end.

FOUR! Edged away! Short and wide on off, there to be put away, Tim Robinson throws his hands at the delivery and gets an outside edge. It races down to the deep third fence and beats the fielder in the deep to his left for a boundary.

Goes full in search of swing and gets a hint of inward shape, on middle, Young clips it to the right of mid on and gets to the other end.

Sprayed on the pads, on a length, Tim Robinson nudges it in front of square on the leg side and crosses over.

FOUR! Gets it through! Angling away, on a back of a length, around off, Tim Robinson rides the bounce and punches it to the left of cover for the first boundary of the game.

On a good length, shaping back into the pads, Tim Robinson turns it off his pads to mid-wicket.

Will Young and New Zealand are underway! On a hard length from Madushanka from over the wicket, at the hips, Young gets on his toes and tucks it towards backward square leg. There is a slight hesitation but the backward square leg fielder fails to pick it up cleanly, allowing the single to be completed.

We are ready for the final ODI to begin! The umpires have already taken their places and the Lankan fielders have spread across the field of play as well. It will be the duo of Will Young and Tim Robinson to open the innings for New Zealand. Dilshan Madushanka is back in the team and will take the new ball for Sri Lanka as well. Let's go...

Charith Asalanka, the captain of Sri Lanka says that they are hoping to win the series 3-0 but at the same time, they are giving chances to some of the new guys. Informs that there are five changes in the playing XI with Chamindu Wickramasinghe making his ODI debut as well.

The captain of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner says that this looks slightly a better wicket than the last game. Adds that they will look to put a good total on the board and then defend it later. Mentions that they have an opportunity to finish the series on a good note. Feels that they lacked a few partnerships in the last game and hopes that they string a few good ones in this game. Informs that Zakary Foulkes makes his ODI debut and he comes in for Nathan Smith while Adam Milne also comes in, replacing Jacob Duffy.

PITCH REPORT - Farveez Maharoof is pitchside. He says yesterday, there was heavy rain and it is a muggy day today. Adds that the pitch looks much better for batting as the cracks are more binded and considering the dew factor and chances of rain, chasing should be the way to go.

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Will Young, Tim Robinson, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Hay (WK), Mitchell Santner (C), Ish Sodhi, Zakary Foulkes (On ODI debut) (In for Nathan Smith), Adam Milne (In for Jacob Duffy).

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Nishan Madushka (WK) (In for Pathum Nissanka), Avishka Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando (In for Kusal Mendis), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Chamindu Wickramasinghe (On ODI debut) (In for Kamindu Mendis), Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dilshan Madushanka (In for Asitha Fernando), Mohamed Shiraz (In for Dunith Wellalage).

TOSS - New Zealand have won the flip of the coin and they will BAT first.

On the contrary, New Zealand have nothing to lose but plenty to gain from this game as they continue their preparations for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Missing several ODI regulars, they would ideally like to offer game time to all squad members, but with the series already lost and a potential whitewash looming, the focus will likely remain on fielding their strongest XI. Can the visitors end their tour on a high? Stick around to find out. Toss and team news coming up shortly!

In the second ODI, Sri Lanka overcame a tense chase, with Kusal Mendis heroically steering the team home despite seemingly battling a groin strain. For this game, the hosts will see at least four changes, with Kusal Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, and Pathum Nissanka being released from the squad. With the series already in the bag, this move reflects a focus on keeping the players fresh ahead of the crucial Test series against South Africa starting next week, which carries significant weight in the context of the World Test Championship final.

Hello and a warm welcome, folks! We are all set for the third and final ODI of the series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. While the T20I series ended in a 1-1 draw, Sri Lanka have already sealed the ODI series with a commanding 2-0 lead, continuing their impressive home dominance in 2024. Whether it be Dambulla or Kandy, rain has been an unwelcome but consistent visitor throughout this series, and it may well pay a visit again today.

... MATCH DAY ...