Sri Lanka ended their nine-year-long wait to secure their first ODI win against New Zealand in New Zealand after securing a thrashing 140-run victory in the series-ending game at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.

It was the third game of the three-match ODI series between the hosts New Zealand and the visitors Sri Lanka, where the Blackcaps already secured the home ODI series by winning the first two matches. 

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Sri Lanka scored 290/8 with the help of three half-centuries

Sri Lanka chose to bat first after winning the toss in the Auckland ODI. After Sri Lanka recorded their highest first innings ODI total in New Zealand with 290/8, New Zealand were bowled out for only 150 runs.

Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando set up a fine start with a 66-run opening partnership before Nissanka retired hurt due to his groin/hip area injury after scoring 50 off 31 balls.

Soon, Fernando was dismissed for 17 runs. However, the next two batters Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis set up an 87-run partnership for the second wicket. Kusal scored 54 off 48 balls while the skipper Charith Asalanka scored another duck. Kamindu also lost his wicket after scoring 46 off 71 balls, after which Nissanka returned with the bat. However, the Sri Lankan opener was still struggling to run and was majorly dealing with boundaries.

Nissanka scored 66 off 42 balls with the help of six fours and five sixes before Mitchell Santner dismissed him. 

In the slog overs, Janith Liyanage batted strongly and scored 53 off 52 balls to guide the Sri Lankan total to 290 runs.

Among the New Zealand bowlers, Matt Henry bagged four wickets (4/55) and Mitchell Santner picked up two wickets (2/55). 

Asitha Fernando's brutal start denied Mark Chapman's fighting knock

In reply, New Zealand lost the first five wickets only for 21 runs, where Asitha Fernando bagged three wickets. Only Mark Chapman managed to reply strongly while the late batters brought few supports without reaching the 20-run mark. 

Chapman was the last batter to be dismissed as Maheesh Theekshana bowled Chapman for 81 off 81 balls (10 fours and one six).

Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Asitha Fernando (3/26), Maheesh Theekshana (3/35), and Eshan Malinga (3/35) picked up three wickets each. 

While Sri Lanka won the ODI by 140 runs, it was their second-largest ODI win (by runs) against New Zealand. Lanka’s previous ODI win against the hosts New Zealand was in December 2015 when they claimed an eight-wicket victory in the Nelson ODI.

Asitha Fernando won the Player of the Match award while the Blackcaps' fast bowler Matt Henry won the Player of the Series award for taking nine wickets in the ODI series.