Rain Ends Final ODI in No Result, Sri Lanka Clinch Series Win Against New Zealand

The third ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was abandoned due to persistent rain, with no further play after a lengthy delay. / Getty

The third and final ODI of the series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was abandoned due to persistent rain, with the hosts sealing the series win without a ball being bowled in the second half. Despite a promising start from the Blackcaps, the weather had the final say, preventing the match from continuing after a lengthy delay.

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, won the toss and opted to bat first in what seemed like an ideal decision. Will Young got the Kiwis off to a flying start, while Henry Nicholls provided solid support at the other end. Young, in particular, looked in fine touch, reaching 56* at the rain interruption, with Nicholls on 46*. Together, they had added an impressive 88 runs for the second wicket, and New Zealand were in a strong position at 112/1 after 21 overs when the rain began to fall.

Unfortunately, the rain continued to pour down, and after nearly four hours of waiting, the umpires had no choice but to call off the match. The result meant Sri Lanka clinched the series 2-0, having already secured an unassailable lead earlier in the series.

In this match, Sri Lanka had rested several of their senior players, making five changes to their lineup, while New Zealand made two. Among the new faces, Zak Foulkes and Chamindu Wickramasinghe made their ODI debuts.

With the rain spoiling the final game, Sri Lanka extended their dominance in the series and ended their ODI campaign on a high note, further boosting their confidence ahead of the upcoming Test series against South Africa. The Blackcaps, though disappointed, will look to regroup as they shift focus to future challenges.

This victory adds to Sri Lanka's impressive record in home ODIs in 2024, marking another milestone in their successful cricketing year.