Trent Boult’s 3-wicket haul key as NZ defeat SL by 5 wickets

New Zealand showcased their cricket prowess with a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in ODI World Cup 2023. Trent Boult’s 3-wicket haul and explosive batting performances led to the win.

New Zealand 172 for 5 (Conway 45, Mitchell 43, Mathews 2-29) , beat Sri Lanka 171 (Perera 51, Boult 3-37, Ravindra 2-21) by six wickets

Showdown at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, New Zealand secured a commanding five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in ODI 41 of the 2023 World Cup, solidifying their fourth-place standing in the tournament.

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, New Zealand set the tone for their impressive performance. Their pacers, led by Trent Boult and Tim Southee with support from Lockie Ferguson, dismantled Sri Lanka‘s top order. Kusal Perera‘s quick start was balanced by the loss of four wickets within the initial ten overs, including Perera himself. This early setback left Sri Lanka struggling with only three wickets in hand after the first 20 overs.

However, Mahesh Theekshana played a pivotal role in stabilizing the Sri Lankan innings. While their tail-enders didn’t contribute many runs, Theekshana’s resilience extended their innings beyond the 40th over. Sri Lanka was eventually bowled out for 171 runs, with the highest partnership of 43 runs in 87 balls coming from Theekshana and Madushanka.

Chasing 172 for victory, New Zealand showcased explosive batting performances, including Devon Conway‘s 45, Daryl Mitchell‘s 43, and Rachin Ravindra’s 42. These impressive displays led New Zealand to reach 172/5 in just 23.2 overs.

Notably, Angelo Mathews was the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka. With this resounding win, New Zealand strengthened their position in the tournament and sent a clear message to their competitors.