Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando scored centuries, Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand in the first ODI

Dambulla (Sri Lanka): With the help of centuries from Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando, Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand by 45 runs in the rain-interrupted first ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Mendis played his career best innings of 143 runs in 128 balls while Fernando added 100 runs in 115 balls. Sri Lanka scored 324 runs for five wickets in 49.2 overs when it started raining. New Zealand got a revised target of 221 runs in 27 overs. New Zealand debutant Will Young and Tim Robinson added 88 runs for the first wicket. After this, the Sri Lankan spinners destroyed the Kiwi batting and the visiting team could only score 175 runs for 9 wickets. Slow bowler Mahish Teekshana and captain Charit Asalanka took 2 wickets each while Jaffrey Wandersay got one wicket. Fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka took three wickets.

Earlier, Mendis and Fernando added 206 runs for the second wicket for Sri Lanka. Captain Asalanka won the toss and decided to bat and in the second over of Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith caught Pathum Nissanka (12) while running at third man. Duffy gave life to Mendis when he was on 11 runs. Duffy could not catch his downward return catch. After this, Nissanka and Fernando made the highest partnership for Sri Lanka’s second wicket against New Zealand.

Earlier the record was in the name of Sanath Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillakaratne who had added 170 runs in the 2003 World Cup. Mendis completed his fourth ODI century in 102 balls in the 37th over while Fernando scored his first ODI century in three years in the next over. Fernando hit 9 fours and two sixes and returned after being caught at mid-day by Ish Sodhi. Mendis hit 17 fours and two sixes and became the victim of Duffy.