Sri Lanka draw ODI series with New Zealand following win in rain-hit ODI

Sri Lankan spinners cast their spell on New Zealand batsmen and helped their side win the rain-hit third and final one-day international in Dambulla on Saturday and draw the series 1-1.

New Zealand, set a Duckworth-Lewis target of 216 in 33 overs, was 126-6 in 25 overs when bad light ended play early in the game, following which the tourists, who should have been 162 at that stage, were declared as the losing side by 36 runs as per the D/L method to determine rain-affected matches.

According to Sport24, the hosts, sent in to bat, had made 211-8 from 33 overs after the start was delayed by 90 minutes and a further rain interruption reduced the game to 33 overs each.

The report mentioned that left-arm Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath claimed three wickets and his teammate and off-break bowler Sachithra Senanayake took two as the tourists slumped to 63-6 by the 19th over.

New Zealand had won the second match in Hambantota on Tuesday after the first match was rained off, the report added.