Twitter Reactions: Ross Taylor and Nicholls centuries blow Sri Lanka away in Nelson

New Zealand have inflicted yet another series whitewash on Sri Lanka. They defeated the visitors by 115 runs and defended the total of 364 runs easily. Sri Lanka have been blanked in an ODI series for the fourth time now since 2017 and their woes are not ending with World Cup only a few months away now. For the Kiwis, it was Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls who changed the game with scintillating centuries.

After opting to bowl first Lasith Malinga accounted for the opposition openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro within the first five overs. Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson, two of the most experienced players joined hands then to rebuild the innings. Both of them first rotated the strike and then took the toll on the bowlers on a flat pitch which eased out after the early moisture was gone.

Williamson once again looked at ease scoring yet another half-century but failed to convert in when the three-figure score was there for the taking. Lakshan Sandakan got the better of him in the 27th over but Sri Lanka weren’t aware of what was going to follow.

Henry Nicholls’ arrival turned things dramatically. He launched a brutal assault on the bowlers from the word go. Taylor also got going from the other end and his purple patch continued in 2018 as well. He notched up his 19th ODI century in the process and was dismissed by Malinga for 137 in which the batsman smashed nine fours and four sixes.

Nicholls then got into the act of a finisher as New Zealand amassed 63 runs in the last 23 balls. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 124 off just 80 balls. The visitors’ poor death bowling continued in this game as well with Malinga conceding 93 runs in 10 overs. They eventually posted a massive total of 364 runs in 50 overs.

Perera shines again but in vain

Thisara Perera was once again in the limelight for Sri Lanka in the chase but it was all too late when he came in to bat. It is baffling to see how their best batsman is sent at number six. He came in to bat when the team’s score was 117/4 in the 18th over and valiantly fought by scoring 80 runs off just 63 balls. But no other batsman could match him which was the case in the previous game as well.

This time the target was also more which made Perera take even more risks and he was eventually snaffled by Lockie Ferguson who ended with impressive figures of 4/40 in eight overs. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 249 runs in the 42nd over as they lost their last four wickets without adding a single run. It was yet another annihilation of the visitors on the tour and it remains to be seen if they can eke out a consolation victory in the only T20I.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the course of the game:

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