QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand, April 8, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Kusal Mendis struck a rapid half-century as Sri Lanka posted 182-6 in the third and deciding T20 against New Zealand in Queenstown on Saturday.

Wicketkeeper-opener Mendis raced to 73 off 48 balls to set the Black Caps an imposing chase to win the series -- locked at 1-1 -- in the final match of what has been a difficult tour.

The 28-year-old took full advantage after being dropped by Daryl Mitchell at slip when on 10.

He went on to hit six fours and five sixes in his 12th half-century, falling just short of his career-high score of 79.

Having been asked to bat, Mendis was the dominant figure in an opening stand of 76 with Pathum Nissanka (25 off 25), before putting on a further 46 with Kusal Perera (33 off 21).

Wickets fell rapidly over the closing overs, preventing the tourists from going close to 200.

Ben Lister took 2-37 while fellow-seamer Adam Milne and legspinner Ish Sodhi were the most economical of New Zealand's bowlers, recording identical figures of 1-30 off four overs.

Matt Henry replaced Henry Shipley in their only change from the nine-wicket win at Dunedin in game two on Wednesday while Sri Lanka also made a solitary change to their seam attack, with Lahiru Kumara in for Dilshan Madushanka.

The match is the last of Sri Lanka's tour, in which New Zealand won the Test and ODI series by the same 2-0 scoreline.