Sri Lanka celebrates a wicket during 4th ODI against New Zealand
Sri Lanka crushed New Zealand by seven wickets in the rain-shortened fourth one-day international at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium to clinch the decisive 3-0 lead in the series.
Riding on the 87-run second-wicket partnership between Kumar Sangakkara (42 not out) and Dinesh Chandimal (43), Sri Lanka comfortably chased down the 132-run target in the 32-over clash.
The series-opener was completely washed out due to rain while Sri Lanka won the rain-revised third and fourth match by 14 runs and seven wickets respectively.
Chandimal, who was playing his first match of the series after replacing injured opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, was first involved in the 36-run opening stand with Upul Tharanga (27).
Slamming four boundaries in his 28-ball knock, Tharanga perished to seamer Tim Southe
Chandimal then combined with Sangakkara and accelerated the flow of runs on scoreboard sagaciously.
Putting the hosts at threshold of victory, Chandimal, who hit four boundaries in his 56-ball knock, bowled out off seamer Trent Boult.
Spinner Andrew Ellis scalped Lahiru Thirimanne for an eight-ball duck but the dismissal was not enough to make an impact on the bottom line and a wide ball from Adam Milne in 27th over stamped on Lankan victory.
Sangakkara hit five fours and a six in his 55-ball vigil.
Earlier, put to bat, New Zealand failed build to gain momentum early from the innings and lose wickets at regular intervals.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum top-scored with 30 while Kane Williamson and James Franklin made 21 runs apiece.
Leg spinner Jeevan Mendis scalped three quick wickets in the death overs to finish with 3-15. Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara recorded the figures of 2-17.
The fifth and final one-dayer is scheduled at the same venue on Monday. ODI series will be followed by two Tests.
