SL VS NZ - 2nd ODI, New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka, 2024

Sri Lanka claim another home series, and they do so this time with an ODI to spare. We'll be back Tuesday now to see what the bench strength of Sri Lanka can do against New Zealand who'd be desperate to try and avoid a whitwash. See you then, bye for now!

Charith Asalanka: It has been a journey and this is another series. We have a big goal as a team but we are going through a good process. I misread the pitch a little bit, I thought dew would play a part but didn't happen that way. (On promoting Theekshana up the order) I hope so, Maheesh also liked it. (Is batting a concern?) Not really, it is really tough to score against spin. Couple of batters need to get set and make big scores. We should try our bench in the next game.

Mitch Santner: Always a challenge defending a low score. Kusal played the situation really well. We wanted to get the run rate up but they never let it go beyond 5 so we knew we would have to keep taking wickets. Was a bit surprised it spun so much. If we are being really honest, we left a few runs out there, if we got 240 or so it would have been very difficult. It is always a challenge to be batting out here, and Sri Lanka bowled well with their spinners. We have another game in a couple of day's time, we need to try and take it a bit deeper in that one with the bat.

Kusal Mendis | Player of the Match: (On injury)I think it is okay now. It was very hard to bat with the new ball. Pathum started really well and his 28 runs were very important. I had to take some chances and Dunith and Maheesh batted really well to support me. The second half there was more spin and dew came in pretty late. I enjoyed playing in these conditions. It was a bit hard playing with my injury, I couldn't run any doubles.

Maheesh Theekshana - It was most satisfying for me, I had a chance to become a hero a few matches back, but today I made it. Special credit to Kusal Mendis for his fine knock. They knew they had to take wickets, so they gave a single to him and tried to dismiss me. I played my shots, hit boundaries of bad balls and took the runs on offer. The wicket was really good, we thought the rain made the wicket better. The ball began to spin, we thought if we don't give them wickets, the dew will come and make it difficult for them. I bowl in tough situations, be it in the powerplay or the death overs. We've got a good bench strength, we have experienced and young players, you need to keep doing well with so much competition around. The World Cup in India (in 2023) was a shame for us, but we've started to win now and the environment around the team is very positive.

- This is the sixth successive ODI bilateral series win for Sri Lanka at home - their longest winning streak at home in ODIs (five between 1997 and 2003).

- This is also the tenth consecutive undefeated bilateral ODI series at home for Sri Lanka since their defeat to India in July 2021.

- 2024 is only the second calendar year in which Sri Lanka has won five bilateral ODI series after 2014.

- It is the first ODI series win for Sri Lanka over New Zealand since November 2012.

- 47* runs stand between Kusal Mendis and Theekshana is the highest for the 8th wicket or below for Sri Lanka against New Zealand at home.

23:18 Local Time, 17:48 GMT, 23:18 IST: Sri Lanka survive a real scare to continue their fine streak in white ball cricket, as they chase down 210 on a tricky surface here in Pallekele. Barring Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, their top order failed to provide any noteworthy contributions as New Zealand choked them with their spin. Micheal Bracewell bowled an inspired spell in the powerplay and ended with four wickets, while Santner and Glenn Phillips claimed a wicket apiece. The hosts were struggling at 93/5 at one stage, but Kusal Mendis anchored from one end, stitching crucial partnerships with Liyanage, Wellalage and finally Theekshana to get his side home. New Zealand bowled out their marquee spinners pretty early in the game, and were forced to go with their pacers towards the end as Sri Lanka found that more comfortable. Stick around for the presentations...

Nathan Smith to Theekshana, 2 runs, that's it, game over!! Short pitched on the body, Theekshana with a swivel pull that goes between fine leg and deep square leg. That's good enough for the batters to return back for the second and chase down this target with an over to spare. Sri Lanka claim the series 2-0 with this 3 wicket win.

Nathan Smith to Theekshana, no run, once again banged short and angling over leg stump, Theekshana gets low again

Nathan Smith to Theekshana, no run, short pitched delivery over leg stump, Theekshana ducks under it

Nathan Smith to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, short pitched on the body, pulled towards deep backward square leg

Nathan Smith to Theekshana, 1 run, length ball that slides onto off stump, punched square of the wicket for a single

One boundary away now

Nathan Smith to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, pace off and wide outside off, dabbed to the right of third-man. Just a single

Nathan Smith [2.0-0-16-1] is back into the attack

Jacob Duffy to Theekshana, no run, dances down the track and drives this fuller length delivery towards mid-off. Theekshana tries to scamper a single but his partner wasn't interested. Has to rush back and dive to avoid a run out

Jacob Duffy to Theekshana, no run, bouncer from Duffy, Theekshana ducks under it

Jacob Duffy to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, short and wide, dabbed a bit uppishly towards third-man

Jacob Duffy to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs, too full on off stump, driven straight down the ground for a couple of runs as long-on is wide

Jacob Duffy to Theekshana, 1 run, back of length on off, Theekshana punches it into the ground towards gully. Kusal Mendis hares through for the single as if all is now suddenly fine with his legs