Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 2013-14

	Tillakaratne Dilshan was the leading run-scorer in the ODIs © AFP Enlarge
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One-day internationals (3): Sri Lanka 1, New Zealand 1
Twenty20 internationals (2): Sri Lanka 1, New Zealand 0

Sri Lanka gave New Zealand a hearty welcome for their short tour, as circumstances had conspired to deprive the hosts of much international competition in 2013. First a two-Test series in the West Indies was replaced by a one-day triangular tournament, then South Africa's visit was shorn of its Test matches to accommodate the Sri Lanka Premier League - which never actually took place. Finally, a scheduled tour of Zimbabwe was cancelled.

There was some disappointment that New Zealand did not send their strongest side. Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor were rested, while Kane Williamson, the stand-in captain, had broken his thumb in Bangladesh. Kyle Mills took charge instead. The weather posed further problems: the first four matches were all affected, with the first Twenty20 international completely washed out. The one-day series was shared, but Sri Lanka claimed a convincing win in the second Twenty20 after the rain relented.

Sri Lanka had planned to include some new faces, with Twenty20 and 50-over World Cups on the horizon. But the main contributors were familiar names: Tillakaratne Dilshan passed 50 in each of his four innings, while Kumar Sangakkara batted with his customary panache. The only fresh blood was the young off-spinner Ramith Rambukwella, the son of Sri Lanka's Minister for Media and Information.

After a one-day whitewash in Bangladesh, New Zealand were relieved to share the 50-over series, which they did thanks to a remarkable blitz from Nathan McCullum. Needing 17 from the last four balls to win the second game at Hambantota, he pummelled Rangana Herath for six, four, six and six. McCullum also bowled well throughout, while Mills welcomed the contribution of wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi, whose three useful innings helped atone for an underwhelming start to his New Zealand career in England earlier in the year.

Match reports for

1st ODI: Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Hambantota, Nov 10, 2013
Report | Scorecard

2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Hambantota, Nov 12, 2013
Report | Scorecard

3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Dambulla, Nov 16, 2013
Report | Scorecard

1st T20I: Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Pallekele, Nov 19, 2013
Report | Scorecard

2nd T20I: Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Pallekele, Nov 21, 2013
Report | Scorecard