The BLACKCAPS wrapped up the ANZ ODI Series over Sri Lanka 3-1 after a tense 36-run win at beautiful Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
A captain’s knock from Angelo Mathews (95) held together a spirited pursuit of 295 for victory from Sri Lanka, with only BLACKCAPS fast bowler Matt Henry proving the difference in the end.
Relive the sights and scenes from a packed Bay Oval
Henry, who took a four-wicket bag in each of the opening two matches, was awarded Man of the Match for his figures of 5-40, including the key scalp of Mathews.
Earlier, Martin Guptill’s sensational touch with the bat had continued, his 102 guiding the BLACKCAPS to 294/5 in the first innings.
Maintaining a strike rate of around a run a ball, Guptill anchored the BLACKCAPS innings until the 39th over.
His customary shots down the ground were once again a highlight of his innings, which was rewarded with a ton off 107 balls – his 10th career ODI ton.
It caps an impressive series for Guptill, tallying 331 runs at an average of 82.75.
He was helped through the middle stages of the innings by Kane Williamson (61) and Ross Taylor (61), setting up a strong platform to launch from in the final overs.
Sri Lanka’s bowling was tidy at the death, but some late strikes from Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner propelled the home side to within a shot of 300.
It was more than a challenging total on a pitch which offered something for both batsmen and bowlers.
The returning Trent Boult then got the BLACKCAPS off to the perfect start, getting the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan for just five.
Henry made a double-strike not long after and at 3-33 Sri Lanka were in a world of trouble.
But with two experienced fighters in Dinesh Chadimal and Mathews, Sri Lanka fought their way back into the match.
With 10 overs left, Sri Lanka required fewer than 10 an over and the 7000-strong crowd was on the edge of their seat.
They key moment came in the 46th over when Mathews went to pull Henry. The ball sailed towards the rope, but instead of going over for six and bringing up a century, it found the safe hands of Henry Nicholls.
An extra couple of metres and Sri Lanka may well have been on their way to victory.
Henry and Boult (3-43) cleaned up the tail to dismiss Sri Lanka for 258 after 47.1 overs.
It concluded a pleasing performance in the series for the BLACKCAPS, with Henry and Guptill in particular showing superb form.
The two sides meet for the first ANZ Twenty20 on Thursday at the same venue.
Let's do it again this Thursday!
