NZ VS SL - 3rd ODI, Sri Lanka tour New Zealand, 2023

20:10 Local Time, 07:10 GMT, 12:40 IST: New Zealand missed quite a lot of their core players, but they've walked past Sri Lanka in the two completed matches. Once again Sri Lanka's batting letting them down. 157 was never going to be enough, the bowlers did raise hopes with some early wickets. At 59 for 4, the game was evenly poised, but Will Young held firm at one end, Nicholls was enterprising and ensured that they didn't face any more hiccups on their way to the winning post. The latter did survive a close LBW shout, but got it successfully overturned by a review. Lahiru Kumara bowled with a lot of heart, but they hardly had a chance after their batters' back-to-back miserable outing. Young's outstanding innings under some pressure will keep him in the frame for a berth in #CWC23, that's a positive for New Zealand. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will need to answer some questions as they take a detour to Zimbabwe, in their quest to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. The live feed has ended, but we'll let you know about the Player of the Match, which should be Matt Henry, for his splendid spell which broke the back of the Lankans. Ther tour will continue with 3 T20 internationals coming up. Do join us for all those games. And yes, #IPL2023 will start in a few hours time. Enjoy all the cricket action. For now, cheers and bye..

Karunaratne to Nicholls, FOUR, and that seals the series for New Zealand, they win it by a 2-0 margin, banged in short and just outside off - Nicholls swivelled across and pulled it past square leg for the winning boundary

Sombre faces in the SL dressing room. They know that the qualification path to #CWC23 has become a lot more tougher now

Karunaratne to Will Young, 1 run, on a good length and at the pads, clipped behind square on the on-side for a single

Karunaratne to Will Young, no run, Karunaratne shortens the length and gets it to shape away from outside off - almost had Young chasing at that, drops his wrists and lets it go at the last moment

Karunaratne to Will Young, no run, banged in short by Karunaratne, Young ducks under and lets it go

Karunaratne to Will Young, no run, fuller length delivery on the stumps, pushed back at the bowler

Shanaka to Nicholls, no run, on a good length and just outside off, defended back at the bowler

Shanaka to Nicholls, no run, short of a length and well wide of off, left alone

Shanaka to Nicholls, no run, fuller length delivery on off, pushed back at the bowler

Shanaka to Nicholls, wide, the bouncer from Shanaka, but it sails past Nicholls and is called as a wide

Shanaka to Nicholls, FOUR, drilled, a little shimmy down the pitch, Nicholls doesn't get too close and that allows him to get elevation on the lofted drive, straight of mid-on and bounces away to the ropes

Shanaka to Nicholls, no run, Shanaka shortens the length outside off, pushed off the back-foot to the off-side

Shanaka to Nicholls, no run, fuller length delivery on off, defended back at the bowler

Karunaratne to Nicholls, 3 runs, creamed, fuller length delivery outside off - Nicholls leans across and hammers the drive to the left of cover, the fielder got a finger on the ball and took some pace off, they run hard and come back for the third. An accurate throw to the keeper, but Will Young was well in - the 3rd umpire has a look

Karunaratne to Nicholls, 2 runs, short of a good length and at the stumps, Nicholls swivels across and pulls it over backward square leg, was bouncing away and needed a big diving effort in front of the ropes to prevent the boundary

Karunaratne to Nicholls, no run, on a good length and well wide of off, slapped straight to the fielder at cover

A slip in place

Karunaratne to Will Young, 1 run, back of a length and well wide of off, steered away towards third man for a single

Karunaratne to Nicholls, 1 run, short of a good length and around off, worked in front of square on the on-side for a single