Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 3 wickets on Sunday (November 17) in Pallekele. Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vabdersay's three wicket each helped Sri Lanka restrict New Zealand to a below par total of 209 on the board. In reply, Kusal Mendis' gutsy knock of 74 and valiant knock of Maheesh Theekshana helped Sri Lanka chase down the total.

Opting to bowl first, Dunith Wellalage removed Tim Robinson cheaply. Maheesh Theekshana then had Henry Nicholls. Will Young couldn’t make a long innings as he fell to Vandersay on his 26.

Charith Asalanka had Glenn Phillips and New Zealand were in all sorts of trouble on 98-4.

And then Mitch Hay and Mark Chapman stitched a crucial partnership of 75 between them before Hay fell to Theekshana, on one short of his half-century.

New Zealand then had a mini collapse but Chapman was tall and scored a superb 76 off 81 deliveries and New Zealand managed to get just 209 on the board.

There then rain arrived and the match was reduced to 47 overs. And the target for Sri Lanka was set to 210.

In reply, Mitchell Santner removed Avishka Fernando earlier on. Kiwi all-rounder Michael Bracewell bowled an inspiring spell in the powerplay and reduced the hosts to 93/5 one stage. But wicketkeeper batter Kusal Mendis anchored the innings one end and stitched crucial partnerships with lower order batters Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana.

The unbeaten 47* run partnership between Mendis and Theekshana steered Sri Lanka home with 3 wickets to go.

This is Sri Lanka's maiden ODI series victory over New Zealand since 2012.