Third ODI washed out in Auckland

NewZealand-cropped

The seven-game one-day international series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka remains tied at 1-1 after Saturday's third ODI was washed out in Auckland.

Play was halted with New Zealand 145-3 after 28.5 overs at Eden Park but persistent rain forced a premature end to proceedings.

The Blackcaps and Sri Lanka will now travel to Nelson for Tuesday's fourth ODI.

New Zealand were sent into bat in Auckland after Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and elected to bowl.

Blackcaps skipper Brendon McCullum wasted little time making his mark at the crease, clearing the boundary for six from just the third delivery he faced.

McCullum, though, was eventually dismissed by Mathews (3-21) for 28 runs off 22 balls with New Zealand 40-1 in the seventh over.

The hard-hitting New Zealander mistimed a pull shot and his leading edge was gobbled up by Nuwan Kulasekara at square leg.

Opener Martin Guptill (66) and Tom Latham (42) were not overawed in the absence of McCullum, steering the Blackcaps past the 100-run mark.

The pair combined for a 99-run stand before Latham fell victim to Mathews, who reduced New Zealand to 139-2.

Guptill posted his first half-century in nine innings before Ross Traylor (three) was trapped in front lbw by Mathews in the 28th over.

That proved to be the final wicket of the match as the rain refused to let-up in Auckland.

 

Author(s)