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In an exhilarating encounter at Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand claimed a dominating victory by 113 runs in the second ODI against Sri Lanka. The match, which was reduced to 37 overs per side due to rain, saw an outstanding fielding performance from Nathan Smith, who took a sensational catch to dismiss Eshan Malinga during Sri Lanka’s innings.
An unbelievable diving catch from Nathan Smith
One of the major highlights of the day came in the 29th over when New Zealand’s fast bowler William O’Rourke bowled to Sri Lanka’s Malinga. Malinga, attempting to ramp the delivery over the keeper’s head, was unable to get enough power on the shot. The ball flew off the splice of his bat and began to dip toward the fine third man. Smith, stationed at fine third man, made an incredible leap horizontally to his right, maintaining focus on the ball until the last second. His fully stretched hands caught the ball cleanly, completing what could easily be the catch of the series. Malinga’s innings was cut short for just 4 runs off 5 balls, thanks to Smith’s brilliant fielding.
Here is the video:
Nathan Smith! A screamer on the Seddon Park boundary to dismiss Eshan Malinga 🔥 #NZvSL #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/sQKm8aS07F
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 8, 2025
Despite having a couple of misfields earlier in the day, Smith’s outstanding catch was the perfect redemption. His spectacular effort seemed to energize the New Zealand side, and it was a moment that will be remembered throughout the series. Smith’s contribution wasn’t limited to the field, he also impressed with the ball, taking 1 wicket for 34 runs from his 7 overs.
O’Rourke, the 23-year-old fast bowler, was another key performer for New Zealand. His bowling was crucial in breaking Sri Lanka’s resistance, especially in the middle overs. O’Rourke took 3 wickets for just 31 runs in his 6.2 overs, with one of those wickets coming from the exceptional catch by Smith.
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Sri Lanka’s struggles with the bat
Batting first after the rain delay, New Zealand posted a competitive total of 255/9 in their allotted 37 overs. Rachin Ravindra was the standout batter for the Kiwis, scoring a composed 79 runs. Maheesh Theekshana, the Sri Lankan bowler, was the pick of the bowlers for his team, claiming 4 wickets and providing much-needed breakthroughs in the middle overs. In response, Sri Lanka struggled to build partnerships and were bowled out for just 142 in 30.2 overs. Kamindu Mendis was the only batter to provide some resistance, scoring a valiant 64 runs, but he lacked support from the other end. Despite Mendis’ effort, Sri Lanka fell well short of the required total, handing New Zealand a comfortable victory.
