Sri Lanka started the three-match home ODI series against New Zealand powerfully before a rain interruption in the last over of the first innings.  

After Sri Lanka chose to bat first, the hosts scored 324/5 in 49.2 overs before rain interrupted the game. While the opener Avishka Fernando scored 100 runs off 115 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes, the wicketkeeper-batter 143 runs off 128 balls with the help of 17 fours and two sixes. 

Also, the skipper Charith Asalanka played a powerful cameo late as he scored 40 off 28 balls (three fours and two sixes) and was out just before the rain interruption. 

Here are some key stats of the innings

Sri Lankan opener Avishka Fernando and the no.3 batter Kusal Mendis set up a 206-run partnership for the second wicket.

• It was Sri Lanka’s second ODI double-century partnership as well as the highest ODI partnership for any wicket against New Zealand. Their previous record was a 201-run partnership for the opening wicket between Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga at Napier in 2006. 

 

• It was Sri Lanka’s fourth 200+ ODI partnership for the second wicket and third-highest ODI partnership for the second wicket.

 

• It was Sri Lanka’s sixth-highest ODI partnership for any wicket at home. 

 

Kusal Mendis scored 143 runs.

• It was the highest individual ODI score by a wicketkeeper-batter against New Zealand. The previous record was 142 by the Zimbabwean Dave Houghton in the 1987 Hyderabad ODI during the ICC Cricket World Cup 1987.

 

• It was the highest individual ODI score by a Sri Lankan batter against New Zealand. The previous record was 140 runs by two Lankan batters, Sanath Jayasuriya (at Bloemfontein in 1994) and Thisara Perera (at Mount Maunganui in 2019).

 

• It was the second-highest individual ODI score by a Sri Lankan wicketkeeper. The record is 169 runs by Kumar Sangakkara against South Africa in the 2013 Colombo (RPS) ODI.  
  

 

• It was the third-highest individual ODI score by a Sri Lankan non-opener. 
  

 

• It was the fifth-highest individual ODI score by a Sri Lankan batter at home.
  

 

Sri Lanka scored 324/5 in 49.2 overs.

• It was the second time for Sri Lanka to score a 300+ total against New Zealand, as it was the second-highest ODI total for Sri Lanka against New Zealand. The record is 326 all out in 49 overs during the 2019 Mount Maunganui ODI.