NZ VS SL - 3rd ODI, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2018-19

So we're done with the Tests and we're done with the ODIs. The only T20I between these two teams shall be played on Friday at Eden Park, Auckland. Can Sri Lanka get a consolation victory in the final match of the tour or will it be the Blackcaps yet again? Join us on 11th of January to find that out. On behalf of Raju, Abhinand and Sulthan this is Nikhil waving a goodbye! Laters!

Ross Taylor, Man of the Match: We are pretty nervous at the start of every game but after playing 200 games you get used to it. Leading to the World Cup the boys have put their hands up and played well. I am trying to keep things simple and not trying to think too much. In New Zealand when you bat first you can catch up. We are doing the donkey work in the middle and putting the icing on the cake later. The way Nicholls got his first hundred, it was good to see. It made my job easier and set the tone for us.

Kane Williamson: I have enjoyed the improvement in the team. We have got better in each match. A fantastic hundred by Ross set things up today. Henry Nicholls scored a ton and helped us to a 350-plus total. Things can be fickle in this format but it's really good to see the guys execute their roles. It's important to do it consistently. Hopefully we are getting answers to everything before the World Cup. It's been a competitive series and we've come out on top on all three occasions.

Lasith Malinga: I think we didn't bowl well in the last 15 overs in all three games. We need to improve our middle order batting before the World Cup. I think our players will learn from their mistakes before the next tournament. Thisara has done a good job but we need to improve our bowling, especially in the last 15 overs. I am enjoying my captaincy, that's the way to go ahead by sharing my ideas with the youngsters.

18:23 Local Time, 05:23 GMT, 10:53 IST: Sri Lanka's search for a victory on this tour continues. They lost the Test series 1-0 and they've been whitewashed by the Kiwis (3-0) in the ODI series. Chasing 365 was never going to be easy and even though they got off to a decent start, it was just a matter of getting that initial breakthrough. Once the opening partnership was broken, the visitors lost a flurry of wickets and could never recover from those blows. Thisara Perera played another impressive innings, but just like the last match even this one was in a losing cause. Earlier in the day it was a fab effort by Ross Taylor (137) and Henry Nicholls (124) that powered New Zealand to such a mammoth score. They had the game in the first half itself and the second half as expected, turned out to be a mere formality.

Ish Sodhi to Pradeep, out Bowled!! That's a wrap! New Zealand have thumped Sri Lanka by a massive margin of 115 runs. As comprehensive as it can get. Pradeep swings his bat blindly only to find his off-stump knocked over by the googly. Sodhi ends with a 3-wicket haul, denying Ferguson a 5-for. Pradeep b Ish Sodhi 0(3)

Ish Sodhi to Pradeep, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Ish Sodhi to Pradeep, no run, the googly around off and Pradeep defends it off his front foot

Ish Sodhi to Pradeep, no run, flighted delivery around off and Pradeep defends

Nuwan Pradeep, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Ish Sodhi to Malinga, out Stumped!! New Zealand inch closer to victory as Malinga has been stumped. Shimmies down the wicket and gets beaten due to the wrong 'un. Seifert is on to it a flash and the Lankan skipper is back to the hut. Malinga st Seifert b Ish Sodhi 0(1)

Ish Sodhi to Malinga, THATS OUT!! Stumped!!

Ish Sodhi [8.0-0-40-1] is back into the attack

Lockie Ferguson to Sandakan, no run, skiddy back of a length delivery outside off, Sandakan hangs his bat out and fails to connect

Lakshan Sandakan, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Lockie Ferguson to Gunathilaka, out Bowled!! Ferguson brings an end to Gunathilaka's resistance. Never really got going, did the southpaw. He was struggling with a stiff back and his rusty knock has been cut short by the speedster. Bowled a few slower ones earlier in the over and follows it up with this quicker delivery (142kph). Gunathilaka was looking to steer it down to third man and ends up guiding it on to the off stump. Needs just one more to complete his 5-for now! Gunathilaka b Lockie Ferguson 31(52) [4s-1]

Lockie Ferguson to Gunathilaka, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Lockie Ferguson to Gunathilaka, no run, spears in a fullish delivery around off and Gunathilaka drives it to extra cover

Lockie Ferguson to Gunathilaka, no run, slower delivery around off and Gunathilaka stonewalls it

Lockie Ferguson to Chameera, out Caught by Southee!! Ferguson takes another wicket - his third one. A shortish delivery around off and Chameera goes hard at it. Gets a top-edge towards mid-off where Southee completes the formalities. He'd be aiming to get a five-wicket haul, can he get it? Chameera c Southee b Lockie Ferguson 1(8)