New Zealand's hopes of posting a consolation win against Sri Lanka were shattered by rain as the fifth and final one-day international was called off after 28.3 overs in Hambantota on Monday.
Sri Lanka won the five-match series 3-0, with the first and last one-dayers abandoned due to rain.
New Zealand was strongly placed to register its first win of the series as it reduced Sri Lanka to 8 for 123, with fast bowler Tim Southee taking three wickets to put the hosts under pressure.
Southee, who finished with 3 for 18 off 5.3 disciplined overs, was brilliantly supported by seamers Andrew Ellis (2 for 22), Trent Boult (1 for 23) and Adam Milne (1 for 17) to give his team a hope of victory.
Opener Upul Tharanga (60) top-scored for Sri Lanka, cracking eight fours before being caught by wicket-keeper Bradley-John Watling off Southee in the 29th over.
He added 47 for the fifth wicket with skipper Mahela Jayawardene (24), the highest stand of the innings, after four wickets had fallen for 44 runs.
Southee did the early damage when he bowled opener Dinesh Chandimal for no score and then had Lahiru Thirimanne caught behind to reduce Sri Lanka to 2 for 33.
Thirimanne, promoted in the batting order, contributed a 15-ball 17 with three boundaries.
Boult dismissed Angelo Mathews before Milne got his maiden one-day wicket when he had Kumar Sangakkara caught behind for 5.
Sri Lanka made two changes from the side that played the last match, bringing in paceman Shaminda Eranga and debutant spinner Akila Dananjaya in place of Nuwan Kulasekara and Rangana Herath. New Zealand retained the same side.
Sri Lanka and New Zealand will now play a two-Test series starting in Galle on Saturday.
AFP
Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka, new-zealand First posted November 13, 2012 07:15:06
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