Sri Lanka's national cricket team bounced back from two heavy losses to defeat the New Zealand national cricket team in the third ODI in Auckland. They were led by stellar performances from Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga, and Maheesh Theekshana, who each claimed three wickets. Pathum Nissanka, who retired hurt but returned to score 66 off 42 balls, was the top-scorer for Sri Lanka. New Zealand suffered an early collapse, with five of their top six batsmen dismissed for two runs or less, ultimately succumbing to a 140-run defeat.
Sri Lanka Stuns New Zealand in Thrilling ODI Triumph
After suffering two consecutive defeats, the Sri Lankan national cricket team staged a remarkable comeback to secure a convincing 140-run victory over New Zealand in the third ODI in Auckland.
Match Highlights
Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga, and Maheesh Theekshana, played a pivotal role in the victory. Fernando and Malinga each took three wickets, while Theekshana claimed three crucial wickets in the middle overs.
Pathum Nissanka, despite retiring hurt, played a valiant innings of 66 runs off just 42 balls, leading Sri Lanka's batting charge. Dhananjaya de Silva and Chamika Karunaratne also contributed valuable runs.
New Zealand, in contrast, struggled with the bat from the outset. Five of their top six batsmen were dismissed for two runs or less, leaving them reeling at 11 for 5. Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham attempted to salvage the innings, but their efforts proved insufficient.
Background
The ODI series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand is part of Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand in 2023. The series is currently tied at 1-1, with the fourth and final ODI scheduled to take place on February 12th.
The previous two ODIs saw New Zealand dominate, with the Black Caps winning by 118 runs in the first ODI and by 65 runs in the second ODI. Sri Lanka's victory in the third ODI has breathed new life into the series.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Who was the top performer for Sri Lanka? Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga, and Maheesh Theekshana each took three wickets.
2. What was Pathum Nissanka's contribution? Despite retiring hurt, Nissanka returned to score 66 runs off 42 balls, leading Sri Lanka's batting charge.
3. How did New Zealand's top order perform? Five of New Zealand's top six batsmen were dismissed for two runs or less.
4. What is the current score in the ODI series? The ODI series is currently tied at 1-1.
5. When is the fourth and final ODI scheduled? The fourth and final ODI is scheduled to take place on February 12th.
With the IPL 2026 trade window open, reports suggest that a major player exchange could be in the cards for Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals. Speculation is rife that KL Rahul and Sanju Samson, two Indian batting stars, could be swapping places in a sensational trade. Given the uncertainty surrounding both players at their current franchises, this move has the potential to shake up the upcoming IPL 2026 auction and make for a major headline in the cricketing world.
After a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Pro Wrestling League is set to return in January 2026. This time, the Wrestling Federation of India has taken charge of payments to ensure fair distribution and transparency. Former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has also been assured that wrestlers who protested against him will not face any discrimination. A settlement between the WFI and previous promoter ProSportify has been reached, with the WFI now in full control of the league's operations.
In a big move ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, star cricketer Sanju Samson is reportedly set to return to Delhi Capitals. The franchise is planning to trade Tristan Stubbs to Rajasthan Royals, with both teams engaging in trade talks for over a month now. While Delhi is eager to bring Samson in, they are not willing to part with any of their core players, including KL Rahul. Rajasthan, on the other hand, were open to bringing in Stubbs, but negotiations fell through due to their demand for an additional uncapped cricketer. This paves the way for Samson to make a comeback to the Delhi team after exploring trade options with other franchises as well.
Jemimah Rodrigues' unbeaten 127 in India's chase against Australia has been hailed as a true display of resilience, belief, and passion by none other than Virat Kohli. Along with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Rodrigues built a crucial 167-run partnership to end reigning champions Australia's 15-match unbeaten run in the competition. Despite the added pressure of Kaur's dismissal, Jemimah stayed focused and powered India to a historic 5-wicket win.
The city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh organized a Run for Unity Marathon to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the Iron Man of India. Over 2,500 citizens, including ministers, police officials, students, and residents participated in the event, which covered major city landmarks. This event was held as part of the National Unity Day celebrations, with the participants pledging to uphold the ideals of unity, peace, and national security. Even police officials from rural areas took part in the marathon, led by the Police Commissioner Santosh Singh and SP (rural) Yangchen Dolkar Bhutia.
India celebrates a historic victory against Australia at the Women's World Cup, marking a defining moment for the country's cricket team. In the business world, Lexus announces plans to launch a new luxury brand, aiming to appeal to high-end customers seeking innovation and exclusivity.
In a thrilling second T20I encounter between India and Australia, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood's excellent performance helped Australia secure a victory. However, the visitors will now have some respite as Hazlewood will miss the last three T20Is to prepare for the upcoming Ashes series. Indian batsman Abhishek Sharma was the only player to put up a fight against the Aussies, but it wasn't enough as the visitors were bundled out for just 125 runs.
In a fiery display of pace and accuracy, Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood claimed three wickets to restrict India to a mere 125 runs in the second T20I match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India's Abhishek Sharma, ranked number one in T20Is, fought back with a strong knock of 68 runs, but struggled against Hazlewood's attacking spell. However, Hazlewood will not feature in the rest of the series as he focuses on the upcoming Ashes against England.
The fast-paced and unpredictable world of T20 cricket saw two remarkable unbeaten streaks come to an end today, belonging to players Shivam Dube and Jasprit Bumrah. Dube's 37-match streak lasted from 2019 to 2025, while Bumrah's 24-game streak ran from 2021 to 2025. Despite the end of their impressive records, their legacies of consistency and composure in the face of pressure will continue to inspire fans worldwide.
Australia's dominant performance in the second T20I against India has given them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. After the opening match was washed out, Australia took control early in the game, bowling out India for just 125 runs. Australia's openers then set the tone with an aggressive start, with Captain Mitchell Marsh leading with 46 runs. Despite Jasprit Bumrah's valiant attempt to pull off a hattrick, Australia was able to comfortably cross the finish line with an aggressive display of batting.