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NZ beat SL by 10 wickets | Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd ODI Match - Commentary
ICC Cricket World Cup, 2019
Date: Jun 01, 2019 Start Time: 15:00 IST | 09:30 GMT | 10:30 LocalVenue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
RCB
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Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd Match - ODI Commentary
A miracle is what Sri Lanka will need to get something out of this game. They do have variety and experience in their bowling and the wicket is doing a bit but one feels, the total they have is too low. Can they pull it off? Do join us in a short while.
It is just a matter of how long will the Kiwis take to chase this down. 15 overs? 20 overs? The sooner the better for them as it would be good for their net run rate.
This should now be a stroll in the park for the Kiwi batters. The line-up they have you would believe they would chase this down with ease. Also, it is a chance for their under performing openers to find some form back.
Matt Henry smiles and says that they prepared well and knew what they had to do. On the surface, Henry replies that they knew the batsmen will come hard so they just wanted to be smart and vary their lengths and pace. Praises the fielders also. He is delighted with the way they have started as a bowling unit.
The New Zealand bowlers were brilliant right from the start. They made excellent use of the conditions, especially Matt Henry who ran through the top order. He ended with a three-fer. Lockie Ferguson also had three to his name. The rest had a wicket each. The man of the moment, Matt Henry is up for a chat now.
The game started off brilliantly for the Kiwis as Matt Henry got rid of Thirimanne on the second ball itself. Kusal Perera and Dimuth Karunaratne did get the innings back on track but the wicket of the former started the procession. Sri Lanka at one time were reeling at 60 for 6 and even 100 looked a doubt. However, a 50-plus partnership between Perera and Karunaratne, who carried his bat through and became only the second man in World Cups to do so, gave some respectability to their score.
Another top class bowling performance! On consecutive days in this World Cup, we have witnessed some extraordinary bowling! It was more about pace and bounce yesterday. Today, it was about swing, line and length. The Kiwi bowlers have justified their skipper's decision to bowl first and they will be easily the happier side heading into the break.
Lockie Ferguson to Lasith Malinga. OUT! Bowled! No need to go upstairs for this one! Fast ball on a length. Malinga moves away and looks to hit it square on the off side but misses it completely. The ball hits the middle stump and Ferguson gets his third wicket of the game. A happy day for him. SRI LANKA BOWLED OUT FOR 136.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Not Out! The TV umpire is not convinced. Bouncer from Ferguson. It is on the body, Dimuth looks to pull but gets a top edge which goes flying towards deep square leg. For a moment it looks like it will fall short but Santner dives in front and takes the catch. The two umpires get together and have a chat. They take it upstairs and the soft signal is out. Replays roll in and shows that the ball might have touched the ground. The TV umpire is sure it is touching the ground and the giant screen shows NOT OUT. Hmm... we thought Santner had his fingers under the ball. He is looking disappointed with the decision.
The umpire has gone upstairs. It is for a catch. The SOFT SIGNAL IS OUT. Let's see what the replays have to say.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full toss on off, once again Karunaratne flicks it off the inner half to deep square leg. A single to retain strike.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Wide! Slips a delivery down the leg side, it's called a wide.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Short and outside off, Dimuth backs away too much and ends up only dabbing it to point.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fifty for Dimuth Karunaratne, his 3rd in ODIs! Only batsman who has showed the stomach for fight. A length ball on middle, Karunaratne tries to heave it over the leg side but inside edges it through square leg. A couple taken.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. A touch short delivery outside off, Karunaratne stays back and taps it down to short third man.
Trent Boult to Lasith Malinga. Good length delivery outside off, Malinga runs it down to third man and hands the strike back to his skipper.
Lasith Malinga is the last man to come out to bat for Sri Lanka.
Trent Boult to Suranga Lakmal. OUT! Bounced out! Boult digs in well-timed short delivery and it's too good for a lower order batsman. Suranga tries getting inside the bounce and then pull but only manages a top edge. It loops in the air and Santner takes the simplest of catches at covers.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Yorker on middle and off, Dimuth does well to get bat on bowl.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Risky ploy here., Lakmal shows all his stumps and stands outside the leg stump.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Nothing off the Free Hit. It is a bouncer from Ferguson. Dimuth was moving away from the stumps. Lockie followed him. Karunaratne ducks under it hoping it to be called a wide but the umpire is happy with the ball and the Free Hit is not made the most of.
Lockie Ferguson to Suranga Lakmal. NO BALL! Lockie oversteps. He bangs it in short, Lakmal goes for the pull but gets a top edge which falls in no man's land at fine leg and they take one. Free Hit to follow.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the body on a length, Dimuth heaves it over mid-wicket which goes to the fielder on a bounce for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. FOUR! Brilliant execution. A very low full toss on off, Karunaratne shuffles across and paddles it towards the fine leg fence for a boundary.
Lockie Ferguson to Suranga Lakmal. A rare piece of sloppy fielding from New Zealand. Fuller outside off, Lakmal clears his front leg and hits it to the left of Williamson at mid off. He looks to stop it with a slide but the ball deflects off him to the right and they take one with ease.
Trent Boult to Suranga Lakmal. Full on off, Lakmal does well to get his bat down in time. The ball goes to the on side and they take a run. Karunaratne is showing confidence in Lakmal.
Trent Boult to Suranga Lakmal. FOUR! What a shot! Slower one gone wrong. Back of a length ball outside off, Lakmal clears his front foot and smashes it over covers for a boundary.
Trent Boult to Suranga Lakmal. Full outside off. Tempting the batsman to drive. Lakmal goes behind it but misses.
Trent Boult to Suranga Lakmal. Very well defended. Good length ball on middle, Suranga gets on his front foot and solidly defends it.
Trent Boult to Suranga Lakmal. Length ball outside off, Lakmal swings his bat at it but misses.
Trent Boult to Suranga Lakmal. Good length ball on off, Lakmal plays it to the man at cover.
Trent Boult is back! New Zealand going for the kill here.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Bouncer outside leg, Karunaratne looks to scoop it over third man but gets nowhere close to the ball.
Lockie Ferguson to Suranga Lakmal. Bouncer again. Lakmal sways away. Latham does well to get something on it and they take a bye as the ball goes behind him.
Lockie Ferguson to Suranga Lakmal. Fuller on middle and leg, Lakmal strokes it to the man at mid on.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. DROPPED! A very tough chance though. Ferguson bowls a brilliant shorter on off. Karunatane has a poke at it. He gets a thick outside edge. Latham jumps and the ball hits the finger tips of his glove and goes behind. They take a run.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball on the pads, Karunaratne looks to flick but gets hit on the pad.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Bouncer to start his new spell. Dimuth ducks under it.
Lockie Ferguson is back.
Jimmy Neesham to Suranga Lakmal. Full and angling in on off, Lakmal defends it back. Neesham tries to pick it up in his followthrough but fails. Still, he mimes a throw at the striker's end. Fine over from Jimmy, two runs and a wicket from it.
Jimmy Neesham to Suranga Lakmal. Goes for a bouncer but the line is down the leg side. Suranga ducks and the umpire exercises his arms.
Jimmy Neesham to Suranga Lakmal. Fullish and on off, Lakmal presents a full face of his bat and pushes it back to the bowler.
Suranga Lakmal is the next man in.
Jimmy Neesham to Isuru Udana. OUT! Number 8 goes down and the Lankan procession continues... Neesham slants in a length ball on middle, Udana gets forward and across to play the flick shot but fails to get it properly on his bat. Ends up mistiming it towards mid on and Henry moves across to his right to complete an easy catch. No show from Isuru either.
Jimmy Neesham to Isuru Udana. Gets on the front foot and pushes a full ball to mid off.
Jimmy Neesham to Isuru Udana. Good length ball landing on off and angling in, Isuru defends it off his back foot.
Jimmy Neesham to Dimuth Karunaratne. Neesham continues from one end. Delivers a straight ball and it's worked in front of square leg for a run.
Mitchell Santner to Dimuth Karunaratne. Tossed up on middle and leg, Karunaratne strokes it to long on and keeps the strike.
Mitchell Santner to Dimuth Karunaratne. Floated on off, DK taps it to the man at point.
Isuru Udana is the new man in.
Mitchell Santner to Thisara Perera. OUT! The budding partnership is broken. Santner shows courage and flights it on middle and off, Perera looks to heave it over long on. He does not time it well and it just lobs up to the left of long on. Boult comes running in to his left and takes a very good catch. He made it look simple. The 52-run stand is broken and Perera is disappointed with himself. He knows it was not the best of deliveries.
Mitchell Santner to Thisara Perera. WIDE! Bowls it wide outside off. On the wrong side of the tramline and it has been wided by the umpire.
Mitchell Santner to Thisara Perera. Tossed up on off, Thisara strokes it to the man at cover.
Mitchell Santner to Thisara Perera. Outside off, Perera leaves it alone.
Mitchell Santner to Thisara Perera. Floated on off, Thisara strokes it to the man at mid off.
Jimmy Neesham to Thisara Perera. Short and again pulled without seeing to deep square leg for a single. Nelson up for Sri Lanka with six batsmen back in the pavilion.
Jimmy Neesham to Thisara Perera. SIX! Goes the distance... Thisara takes maximum toll here. Pretty average thinking from Neesham. He delivers it right in the slot. A length ball around leg, Perera hangs back and muscles it over long on for a biggie. 50-run stand comes up, Sri Lanka recovering from early blows.
Jimmy Neesham to Thisara Perera. Goodness me! Neesham loses his grip over the ball and slips a high full toss way wide outside off. A shocker, absolute shocker. Perera leaves it alone and will get a Free Hit next ball.
Jimmy Neesham to Dimuth Karunaratne. Slower delivery this time, a touch short and on the pads, Dimuth tickles it fine down the leg side for a run.
Jimmy Neesham to Dimuth Karunaratne. Pitches it up and outside off, it's driven down the ground but straight to mid off.
Jimmy Neesham to Thisara Perera. Bangs in a short ball on middle at 130 kph, Thisara takes his eyes off it but still manages to pull it down to deep backward square leg for one.
Jimmy Neesham to Dimuth Karunaratne. Angling away from the batsman, on a length, Karunaratne leans forward and drives it on the up through cover-point for a run. The pitch seems to have settled down now and hitting through the line is a lot easier than it was earlier.
Jimmy Neesham is back on.
Mitchell Santner to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the pads, DK flicks it to the on side and keeps the strike.
Mitchell Santner to Dimuth Karunaratne. Short again outside off, Dimuth looks to cut but misses.
Mitchell Santner to Thisara Perera. DROPPED! Santner bowls it slower through the air on middle. Perera clears his front leg and looks to whack is straight over the bowler's head. He does not get the desired elevation and ends up hitting it to the right of Santner. He gets his hands to it but cannot position himself properly. The ball deflects off his hand towards mid off and they get a run.
Mitchell Santner to Thisara Perera. Play and a miss. Short outside off, Perera looks to cut but misses.
Mitchell Santner to Thisara Perera. Tossed up on off, Thisara plays it to the man at mid off.
Mitchell Santner to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good running. Santner starts with a flatter delivery on off, Dimuth runs it down wide of short third man and they take a quick single. The fielder has a shy at the keeper's end but misses.
Mitchell Santner is introduced into the attack.
Trent Boult to Thisara Perera. Nice ball to finish the over. Very full on leg, Perera defends it to see off the over.
Trent Boult to Thisara Perera. Back of a length ball on off, Thisara pulls it to the man at mid-wicket.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. This time flicks it towards square leg and gets a single.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Play and miss. Length ball outside off, Dimuth looks to cut but misses.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. FOUR! Wow! What a shot! Boult is guilty of bowling it full on middle and leg, Karunaratne flicks it stylishly through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball on off, Dimuth tucks it to mid-wicket.
Jimmy Neesham to Thisara Perera. Smashed away! Just a little bit of width around off, Thisara goes deep inside the crease and cracks it through backward point. Munro races across to his left from third man and makes a sliding stop. Saves two for his side.
Jimmy Neesham to Dimuth Karunaratne. On a length and outside off, angling across, Karunaratne is on the front foot to play it through the line but it takes the inner half and rolls past the bowler to long on for one.
Jimmy Neesham to Dimuth Karunaratne. Jimmy goes fuller this time, the line is around middle and off, Karunaratne takes his front foot half-forward and flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace.
Jimmy Neesham to Dimuth Karunaratne. Beaten this time! Neesham takes a length ball away with the angle, Dimuth pushes inside the line without much footwork and gets beaten.
Jimmy Neesham to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length ball on middle and leg, Karunaratne goes on his toes and glances it off his hips behind square leg for a couple of runs.
Jimmy Neesham to Thisara Perera. Starts with a delivery which is straight in line and Thisara works it in the gap at mid-wicket for a single.
Jimmy Neesham comes on to bowl.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Play and miss once again to finish the over. Outside off once again from Boult. Karunaratne once again looks to cut but misses. Good over from Boult. Just 2 runs off it.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good fielding. Kiwis have been too good in the field here. Good length ball outside off, Karunaratne hits it to the left of point. Neesham dives and stops the ball. They have added extra pressure on the batsmen with such fielding efforts.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. WIDE! This time bowls it way outside off. It is on the wrong side of the tramline. Dimuth goes after it but it's too far away. Wide signalled.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Another play and miss here. Straighter ball outside off, Karunaratne looks to cut but gets nowhere close to the ball.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball on off, Dimuth strokes it to the man at cover.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Play and a miss! Length ball outside off, it moves away very slightly after pitching. Karunaratne has a poke at it but misses.
Trent Boult to Thisara Perera. Boult comes back into the attack and bowls it on middle and leg, Perera turns it away to fine leg and gets to the other end.
Trent Boult is back!
Lockie Ferguson to Thisara Perera. Good bouncer and played well here by Thisara. Short ball on the body, Perera was moving away but Lockie followed him. He manages to pull it to fine leg and keeps the strike with a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Finally a run of the over. Length ball on off, Dimuth this time punches it wide of cover and gets one.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Shorter on the body, Karunaratne looks to block it but gets hit on the body. This is been a real battle for the Lankan batsman out in the middle.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Once again hits the length hard on middle, Dimuth drives it to the man at mid on.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Length ball on off, Karunaratne defends it to the man at point.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball on middle and leg, it comes in after pitching. Dimuth looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto his thigh pad.
Colin de Grandhomme to Thisara Perera. Follows it up with a dot by solidly blocking it off the back foot.
Colin de Grandhomme to Thisara Perera. SIX! That was six the moment he hit that. Back of a length ball on the body, Perera pulls it right off the meat over square leg fence for a biggie.
Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on leg, Karunaratne plays it towards mid-wicket and gets one.
Colin de Grandhomme to Thisara Perera. Excellent fielding. Captain leading from the front here in the field. Perera gets a length ball outside off, he punches it perfectly through covers. Kane Williamson gives it a chase and pulls the ball before the cushion and saves a run for his side. The batsmen take three.
Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the pads, Karunaratne flicks it to the on side and rotates the strike.
Colin de Grandhomme to Thisara Perera. Length ball on off, TP stands tall and punches it wide of cover for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. FOUR! Welcome boundary for Sri Lanka. It comes off the bat of the skipper. Lockie bowls it full on middle and leg, Karunaratne plays a brilliant on drive through mid on for a boundary.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. This time corrects the line of the bouncer and bowls it on the body.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. WIDE! Misses the line with the attempted shorter one. It is down the leg side. Dimuth ducks and the umpire signals it as wide.
Lockie Ferguson to Thisara Perera. Thisara is off the mark. Length ball on middle, Ferguson pulls it through mid-wicket. The ball does not have the leg to reach the fence but they get three.
Lockie Ferguson to Thisara Perera. Good length ball on off first up. Perera blocks the first one with confidence.
Thisara Perera comes to the crease now.
Lockie Ferguson to Jeevan Mendis. OUT! Another one bites the dust! He was lucky to escape the previous one but not this time. Once again it is a beautiful ball from Ferguson. He bowls it on middle and off, Mendis looks to flick it but gets a leading edge which flies towards gully. Neesham there brilliantly dives to his left and takes a very good catch. The fielding has been outstanding from the Kiwis. It has complimented the bowling superbly.
Lockie Ferguson to Jeevan Mendis. What a beauty! Hits the deck hard on middle and off. The ball moves away after pitching with the angle. Jeevan looks to defend it but gets beaten all ends up.
Colin de Grandhomme to Jeevan Mendis. In the air and just wide! Full and outside off, the batter throws his bat at it. The ball flies off the outside edge, goes just past the outstretched hand of point for a single to third man.
Colin de Grandhomme to Jeevan Mendis. Good length on off, it is kept out.
Drinks Break. New Zealand are all over Sri Lanka and the Islanders are in deep trouble here. They have lost their main batsman, Angelo Mathews just at the stroke of drinks. Sri Lanka skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne is still holding one end but he desperately needs someone to support him. Jeevan Mendis will now join him out in the middle.
Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. OUT! Another one bites the dust! Colin de Grandhomme also strikes in his first over and he probably gets the big fish. The man who Sri Lanka would have thought could have provided them some stability goes without making an impact. It is landed on a length and around off, it pitches and moves away. Not a lot Mathews could have done. He looks to defend but the away movement does him in. It kisses the outside edge and goes into the mitts of Latham. Half the side back in hut for Sri Lanka.
Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Good length on off, it is kept out.
Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Leading edge but a run! Length and on middle, this one shapes away. Karunaratne looks to work it on the leg side but it goes off the leading edge down to third man for a single.
Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length and on off, it is kept out.
Colin de Grandhomme comes on to bowl.
Lockie Ferguson to Angelo Mathews. Another outstanding piece of fielding by Trent Boult. Exactly what a bowler would want when he is bowling well. Ferguson goes short and Mathews may have been ready for it. He goes back and hammers the pull towards mid-wicket where Boult dives to his right and saves a couple at least. Just a single from the over. Sri Lanka finding it difficult to score any kind of runs here.
Lockie Ferguson to Angelo Mathews. Smart bowling but equally good batting! Goes very full, it is probably the surprise delivery by Ferguson. Mathews gets his bat down in time and keeps it out.
Lockie Ferguson to Angelo Mathews. Another dot! Back of a length on off, Mathews guides it to point.
Lockie Ferguson to Angelo Mathews. This is just top class bowling! Goes wide of the crease and angles it into the batter, gets it to leave him then. Mathews looks to defend but the ball whizzes past the outside edge.
Lockie Ferguson to Angelo Mathews. Good short delivery and outside off, Mathews evades it nicely.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length on the body, Karunaratne works it towards square leg for a single.
Matt Henry to Angelo Mathews. Back of a length on off, Mathews stands tall ad guides it to point.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. A little too straight! Karunaratne works it through square leg for a single.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. BEATEN! Poor shot to be honest. Behind a driving length and on off, Karunaratne goes after it loosely. He gets beaten. The ball keeps going away after beating the outside edge and Latham does well to dive and collect it.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. Rolls his fingers on the delivery and bowls it on the pads. Karunaratne looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the shorter side, Dimuth pulls it nicely through backward square leg for a brace.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length on off, Karunaratne pushes it to covers.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. Slips it down the leg side, Karunaratne looks to flick but misses. Wided.
Lockie Ferguson to Angelo Mathews. Another dot! This is worked with the angle to mid-wicket. Just the single run and a wicket from Ferguson's first.
Angelo Mathews comes on to bat.
Lockie Ferguson to Dhananjaya de Silva. OUT! There goes another one! Lockie Ferguson strikes in his very first over. He sets him up excellently. Bowled the previous two balls short and spears this one on a fuller length. Not exactly fuller but a lot fuller than the last two. It comes back in too. Dhanajaya is rooted to his crease as he tries to keep it out but misses. It hits the pads and lobs to the keeper. An appeal follows and the umpire raises his finger. The batter walks up to his skipper and has a chat but then does not review. Lanka slip further.
Lockie Ferguson to Dhananjaya de Silva. Another ball which is bowled shorter. De Silva guides it to point.
Lockie Ferguson to Dhananjaya de Silva. Goes short and on middle, de Silva stands tall and keeps it down.
Lockie Ferguson to Dhananjaya de Silva. Goes wide of the crease and angles it into the off pole, it does not quite come in enough to make the batsman play.
Lockie Ferguson to Dimuth Karunaratne. A single to begin Ferguson's spell! Length and on middle, Karunaratne looks to defend but it goes off the inner half towards square leg for one.
Lockie Ferguson comes on to bowl now.
Matt Henry to Dhananjaya de Silva. Another dot! Length and on off, de Silve strokes it nicely but straight to mid off. Another tight over by Henry.
Matt Henry to Dhananjaya de Silva. Attacks the off pole again, Dhananjaya stands tall and defends it.
Matt Henry to Dhananjaya de Silva. Loose stroke! Length and outside off, Dhananjaya goes after it away from his body but gets beaten.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. A single now as this is worked towards fine leg.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller again on middle, DK works it to mid-wicket.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length on off, blocked.
Powerplay 2 time! 4 fielders allowed outside the inner circle till the 40th over.
Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Back of a length again on off, Dhananjaya stands tall and keeps it out. End of Powerplay 1 and New Zealand on top after it.
Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Back of a length and outside off, the batsman shoulders arms to this one.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. A single now! Slightly fuller, it seems to be the slower one. Karunaratne pushes it towards mid off and takes one.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Continues bowling it on off, Karunaratne guides it to point.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On a length again and on off, DK pushes it to mid on.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Angles this on the pads, Karunaratne looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads.
Matt Henry to Dhananjaya de Silva. BEATEN! In the corridor of uncertainty! De Silva ends up playing inside the line and gets beaten. End of a top-class over from Henry.
Matt Henry to Dhananjaya de Silva. Howzzat? The answer to that question is not out. Length again and on middle, de Silva looks to work it on the leg side but misses to get hit high on the pads. Too high.
Matt Henry to Dhananjaya de Silva. Goes back to bowling length and outside off, de Silva lets it be.
Matt Henry to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Off the mark in style! The Hat-trick ball has been hit to the fence. Henry goes very full and lands it on off, de Silva times it past the diving bowler and bags a boundary. 50 up for Sri Lanka but they have lost three wickets.
Dhananjaya de Silva comes next to bat. Matt Henry is on a Hat-Trick. Henry to bowl with three slips.
Matt Henry to Kusal Mendis. OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Two in two for Henry and Mendis bags a golden duck. However, not a lot you can do with this nut that too first up. It lands on off which means the batsman has to play at it. Mendis looks to defend it by staying rooted to his crease but the ball nips away. Kisses the outside edge and it goes between second slip and first slip. Guptill dives to his left and takes a very good catch. All of a sudden, Sri Lanka are in trouble and Henry is on a Hat-Trick.
Kusal Mendis comes in to bat.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. OUT! In the air... taken! Perera throws away the start he got too. Big, big wicket as he was looking really good out there. Full and on middle, it is the slower one. Perera looks to go downtown but is a touch early in the shot. It goes off the bottom and straight up in the air between mid off and mid on. De Grandhomme moves to his right and takes it with ease. Second one for Henry and a partnership which was starting to flourish comes to an end.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Two dots in a row to end! Back of a length on off, Dimuth guides it to point.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Once again a poor stroke by Karunaratne. He almost lost his wicket. Shortish and it is on the 5th stump channel. Comes back in a little. DK looks to guide it down to third man but gets an inside edge to the keeper. It goes really close past the off pole.
Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. Very straight and it is clipped to fine leg for one.
Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. Finds the gap again through the off side! Shortish and outside off, Perera hits it through cover-point and takes two.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. This time does manage to get it down to third man for a run.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Another wide by Boult! down the leg side, Karunaratne looks to flick but misses. Also, a warning for Boult as he steps on the danger area.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On a length and around off, Karunaratne pushes it to mid on. The swing seems to have disappeared.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. A couple to end! On the pads, this is worked through square leg for an easy single. Another decent over for the Lankans.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. Back of a length on off, the batter stands tall and defends it onto the ground.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. Brilliant, brilliant fielding by Boult. Not easy to put in that effort after bowling an over. short and on the body, Perera helps it on its way towards fine leg. Boult there runs to his left, dives and saves two for his side.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. Good change of pace there! Length and on off, Perera guides it to cover-point.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. Another one which is a little too straight, DK flicks it to fine leg and takes another single.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. A little too straight, this is worked towards square leg for one.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Extra bounce! Length again and outside off, Dimuth looks to guide it down to third man but is beaten by the extra bounce. Good three deliveries to end.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Lands it on a length again and on off, this one moves away a little. Karunaratne prods forward and guides it to point.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Almost chops it on! Risky shot that. Karunaratne looks to guide it down to third man but the ball is a little too close to play that shot. Ends up getting an under edge which goes just past the off pole and to the keeper. Now then... that was not the inside edge but the ball had smashed the off pole. The bails did not fall though. Not sure how. Lucky reprieve for Karunaratne.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Boult is feeling the pressure here. He slips this down the leg side and it has been signaled as a wide.
Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. A single now! He works this around the corner and gets to the other end.
Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. FOUR! Consecutive boundaries! Once again width on offer and Perera is onto it quickly. Full and wide outside off, Kusal lofts it with ease over covers and a boundary results.
Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. FOUR! Slapped! Short and wide outside off, Perera stands tall and hits it hard through cover-point. It races away. Perera is dealing in boundaries here.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. A dot to end! So a good comeback after the boundary. Length and on off, Karunaratne stands tall and defends it onto the ground.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good line and length again! On off and just behind a driving length. Karunaratne defends it onto the ground.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length and on middle, Karunaratne works it towards mid-wicket. A dot.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. BEAUTY! Good use of the angle there. On a length and around off, this one moves away after pitching. Karunaratne looks to defend but is beaten by the away angle.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. On the pads, this is worked towards fine leg for one. Sensible batting.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. FOUR! Hammered down the ground! Full and on off, Perera smashes it straight back past the bowler and you need not run for those. Runs coming thick and fast now.
Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. Good running! Perera pushes this to mid on and quickly gets to the other end. A good over for the Lankans.
Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. Good length and outside off, Perera lets it be.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Now three! Full and on the pads, DK works it through square leg. It is the longer side of the ground so three taken.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. FOUR! EDGY! No third man so a boundary! Full and outside off, Karunaratne looks to drive away from his body but due to the movement. It flies off the outside edge and goes down to third man for a boundary.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Jaffa! Just unplayable! You can only hope, it misses the outside edge. Length and around off, gets this one to move away sharply. Karunaratne plays inside the line and gets beaten.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. A big appeal but it is sneaking down the leg side. Full and on the pads, Karunaratne looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. A huge appeal from the fielders behind the wicket but nothing from the umpire.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. A dot to end! On the pads, this is worked to mid on.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. FOUR! Up and over! Full and width on offer. Perera won't let that go, he lofts it over covers and bags a boundary. First for him.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. Back of a length on off, Perera stands tall and keeps it out.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. Nicely driven but does not find the gap! Full and on off, Perera creams it but straight to covers.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the pads again, Karunaratne works it to fine leg and gets to the other end.
Matt Henry to Dimuth Karunaratne. A little too straight and Karunaratne works it to square leg.
Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. Nice punch to get underway! Back of a length on off, Perera hangs back and punches it through covers. The outfield does not seem that fast and the batters collect two.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length! Fuller and on middle, does not get movement this time. Karunaratne pushes it towards mid on for a quick run. He is off the mark.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Slightly shorter on off, Dimuth works it to mid-wicket. Boult needs to get it a little more fuller.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the stumps this time but no movement! Karunaratne pushes it to mid on.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. A little shape away there! This starts outside off and moves away. DK looks to defend at first but then pulls out of the shot.
Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On a length and around off, Karunaratne lunges and keeps it out.
Trent Boult to bowl from the other end.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. Good fielding which means a dot to end! Back of a length on middle, this pitches and comes back in. Perera looks to put bat on ball but misses. He is hit high on the pads. It rolls towards second slip where the fielder makes a good diving stop. A successful first over comes to an end.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. A little more fuller this time and on off, KP gets right behind the line and defends it.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. Cuts him into half! Peach! Length ball and lands it around off, this one jags back in. Perera plays outside the line and the ball whizzes past the inside edge and over the off pole.
Matt Henry to Kusal Perera. This time angles it away from the right-hander. Perera lunges and keeps it out.
Kusal Perera comes in to bat at 3. Earlier than expected.
Matt Henry to Lahiru Thirimanne. OUT! It is pitching in line and hitting the leg pole! Excellent comeback from Henry and he draws first blood. He goes fuller this time and lands it around leg, it shapes back in a touch. Thirimanne looks to flick but misses. The ball hits the front pad. An appeal but the umpire shakes his head. New Zealand go for the review. Replays roll in and it shows, it is just about pitching in line and then, there was no doubt about it. Excellent use of the review and early breakthrough for New Zealand.
An action-packed start to this game! The first ball was hit for a boundary and now a review as an LBW appeal has been turned down. It seems to be pitching outside leg.
Matt Henry to Lahiru Thirimanne. FOUR! The Lankan innings starts off with a boundary! Poor ball by Henry. On the pads, Thirimanne says thank you very much, he works it fine on the leg side and it races away to the fence. Could not have asked for a better delivery to get first up.
Done and dusted with the National Anthems and we are now all set to get underway! The Kiwis are in a huddle. The umpires make their way out to the middle. The Lankan openers, Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne, follow. Matt Henry has the first new ball in hand. Here we go...
Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera (WK), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga.
New Zealand (Playing XI) - Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (C), Tom Latham (WK), Ross Taylor, James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.
Dimuth Karunaratne says they too were going to bowl first as they are playing four seamers and they wanted to take the advantage of the green surface. Informs the 4 sitting out are Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, Nuwan Pradeep and Avishka Fernando. Mentions they have played a practice game here and it does not move a lot after the first few overs but if you hit the deck hard, it does seam. Ends by saying they do not have a lot of pressure, they want to enjoy and do well and show the world what the Lankans are capable of.
Kane Williamson starts by saying it is a fresh surface and it has a tinge of green on it so he hopes they can make good use of it. Informs Tim Southee, Tom Blundell, Henry Nicholls and Ish Sodhi miss out. States they are playing only one spinner and he hopes their pacers can make use of the surface. Ends by saying they played two good warm-up games, both were different challenges and they are up for this match.
TOSS - It is time for the flip of the coin... Kane Williamson has it in his hand. He tosses it up. Dimuth Karunaratne calls heads and it lands in the favor of Williamson. New Zealand elect to bowl first.
PITCH REPORT - Nasser Hussain says there is a good even covering of grass, it looks a fresh pitch and it would go through. Mentions they have kept grass on the wicket so that the ball skids through, if they shave it off, it tends to slow up. States the first two games of this World Cup has been about pace but this game will be more about pitching it up and swinging it.
Hello and welcome to the coverage of the first game of the double header, it is a clash between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Cardiff. The Kiwis are outright favorites to win this game. They head into the game on the back of a defeat in their second warm-up game but Williamson would be eager to get back to winning ways and start their campaign in style. Sri Lanka on the other hand, will have to be at their best if they stand a chance. Will we witness an upset? The first two games were quite one-sided, let us hope we get a cracking encounter. Stay tuned for the toss.
So that is the end of this game! Another one-sided one. However, cricketing action does not end here. You can switch tabs and watch the Afghanistan and Australia game which is turning out to be another one-sided affair in the favour of the Aussies. As far as Sunday is concerned, South Africa will be facing Bangladesh at the Kennington Oval, London. The match will begin at 1030 local (0930 GMT). Do join us then. Cheers!
New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson says it's a great start for them. Mentions that winning the toss and picking early wickets was important on that wicket. States there is no problem in playing on pitches like these as you can expect movement with the two new balls. Further adds seeing off the new ball is important on such wickets and if they do so, it becomes good to bat on. Reckons they have a balanced attack and they need such attacks in England as games here could be high scoring. Tells they did not have a lot of conversations with the openers regarding getting the target quickly and boosting the NRR as both are aggressive batters and it was nice they went out and played good knocks. Credits the way Munro played and feels it was a much-needed knock for him. Ends by saying they are looking forward to the next game.
Sri Lanka skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne says that they lost the game with the bat as 136 is not a good score. Mentions that he and Kusal Perera batted well but they lost a lot of wickets after that when they needed partnerships. Reckons it was seaming in the morning and the Kiwis had the advantage of that and their bowlers did well. States there should be better batting wickets as the crowd is coming to watch good matches. Further adds they batted well in the practice games but they need to be more consistent and pace their innings a lot better. Feels after getting in and once set, scoring would become easy.
Man of the Match, Matt Henry says that it was a good day for him. Adds that the surface was green and you don't get many decks like these. Mentions this is a tournament, you can't try a lot like you can in the warm-up games. States they were trying to hit the right lines and lengths and force the batsman on the front foot. Reckons it is a massive difference when the fielders do well. Further adds he enjoyed his time at Kent and they enjoyed a lot of success in the white-ball format. Ends by saying it is always a good time to play cricket here.
This match was beautifully set up by the Kiwi bowlers. They utilized the early conditions to peg Sri Lanka back and the Asian team never really recovered after the early blows. Barring Dimuth Karunaratne, who carried his bat, there wasn't much fight shown by the Lankan batsman. Matt Henry was exceptional with the new ball while the rest also assisted him superbly. Lockie Ferguson also completed a 3-wicket haul in the end. Altogether, a clinical and commanding performance from the Black Caps to announce their arrival in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, just like West Indies did.
Easy-peasy! A very comfortable win for the Kiwis. They have overhauled the minuscule target without even breaking a sweat. Martin Guptill and Colin Munro approached the chase smoothly and apart from a few streaky shots, they always looked under control. Both the New Zealand openers scored fifties and handed Sri Lanka their first 10-wicket loss in a World Cup match.
Jeevan Mendis to Colin Munro. NEW ZEALAND WIN BY 10 WICKETS with 203 balls remaining! Flighted delivery, landing full around leg, Munro flicks it behind square leg for a run.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. On the pads, Guptill flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Scores are levelled!
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Dot ball. Malinga delivers a yorker on middle, Guptill gets behind the line and pushes it back to the bowler.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. FOUR! Action replay of the previous ball and it's a no ball also for overstepping. As soon as Slinga delivers it short down the leg side, Martin pulls it down to long leg for another boundary. Free Hit time, 3 needed more, this could end on the next ball...
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. FOUR! Blazed away! Short and down the leg side, Guptill swivels on the back foot and pulls it thunderously towards long leg. There is a fielder present but it's hit so hard that he fails to even react in time. Just 8 more needed to close this game.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Wide called for height! Malinga attempts a bouncer but it goes well over the head of the batsman. Easy call for the square leg umpire.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Malinga stays to 'round the wicket for the right-hander also. Serves again on the pads and Martin clips it towards long leg. They push hard this time and collect a couple of runs.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. Digs in a short ball around middle and leg, from 'round the wicket, Munro stands back and helps it behind square leg. The fine leg fielder cuts it off and they cross.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Starts by trying a yorker but it turns out to be a fuller length ball on the pads, Guptill flicks it in front of square leg and jogs across to the other end.
Drinks break. 17 runs needed off 210 balls with 10 wickets in tact. New Zealand are cruising will be an understatement. Looks like another 2-3 overs and this match will be done and dusted. Only thing interesting to find out is - Will it be a 10-wicket win for New Zealand? Lasith Malinga is back on...
Jeevan Mendis to Martin Guptill. Bowls this one with a round-arm action. It is outside off, Guptill cuts it towards point. The fielder there makes a diving stop. A single taken.
That was hit so far that the box of balls is out. NEW BALLS PLEASE!
Jeevan Mendis to Martin Guptill. SIX! 18 more needed! Sees the flight and his eyes lit up. He dances down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it over long on.
Jeevan Mendis to Colin Munro. On the pads again, this is worked through mid-wicket for a single.
Jeevan Mendis to Martin Guptill. The ball strikes the batsman very low on the pads One run added to the total. Leg bye signalled by the umpire
Jeevan Mendis to Martin Guptill. On the pads again, Guptill works it mid-wicket.
Jeevan Mendis to Martin Guptill. Flatter and on leg, Guptill pushes it wide of long on and runs two.
Jeevan Mendis is introduced into the attack.
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. Not out! What a waste of a review! They took it in desperation, we know, but the technology is there to avoid howlers. Daylight in the replays. A slower shorter delivery around off, Munro comes running down the track and tries to tower it down the ground but fails to connect. The keeper behind collects the ball, they appeal but the umpire stands still. The Lankans think for a while and then go for the referral. The replays rolled in and as mentioned earlier, there wasn't anything to rejoice for the Asian side.
Sri Lanka have taken the review. It is for a caught behind. Colin Munro is the man in question.
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. FOUR! Shot! Right from the middle of the bat. Perera offers a bit of width and Munro buys it quickly. Gives it the full whack of his bat and drills it through wide mid off for a boundary.
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. Swing and a miss! Good length ball angling across the batsman, Munro tries to heave it across the line but fails to connect.
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. 8th ODI fifty for Colin Munro! He makes room for this delivery and eases it in the gap at mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Fine knock from him and this will give him immense confidence heading forward. Like his partner, he too struggled a bit initially, but then got his touch back.
Thisara Perera to Martin Guptill. Stands back and punches a length ball to deep cover for a run.
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. Plays it down with soft hands to covers and crosses for a quick run. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end but fails to find the stumps.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. SIX! 35th ODI fifty for Martin Guptill and the century partnership also comes up. Martin gives charge to the pacer and receives a length ball in return. He does well to line himself behind the delivery and hammers it over wide long on for a maximum. A rise smile on his face as he raises his bat to acknowledge the crowd. Great beginning to his World Cup campaign, although he was a bit scratchy initially.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. A delivery on the pads of Guptill and he tucks it in the gap at mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. Lands it on a length around middle and off, Guptill defends it close to his front pad. A bit of an inside edge spotted.
Isuru Udana to Colin Munro. Shortish and outside off, Munro punches it through point. A bit aerial but it goes safely to the deep. Another run added to the total.
Isuru Udana to Colin Munro. Beauty of a delivery! Udana dishes out a length ball just outside off, Munro tries to push it through the line but the ball straightens after landing and beats the outside edge.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. Guptill reaches out for a length ball outside off and drives it to deep cover for a run.
Thisara Perera to Martin Guptill. Pitches it up and outside off, Guptill slices his attempted cover drive over cover-point for a run. 9 from yet another over, fourth time to be precise.
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. Slower delivery, a bit short and on leg, Munro works it in front of square leg and rotates the strike.
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. FOUR! Boom! Aggression shown by Munro. He skips down the track as soon as the bowler releases the ball. It turns out to be in his zone and he thwacks it past the diving mid off fielder for a boundary. Under 50 required now.
Thisara Perera to Martin Guptill. Angling in on off, a length ball, Guptill strokes it off his front foot to long off for one.
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. Another edge! Good length delivery outside off, shaping away from the left-hander, Munro pokes inside the line and edges it wide of first slip for a run at third man.
Thisara Perera to Martin Guptill. On middle and leg, Martin tries to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to short fine leg and they steal a leg bye.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. Knocks it down towards mid on and scampers across to the other end.
Isuru Udana to Colin Munro. Fullish and on middle, Munro drills it down to long on for a run.
Isuru Udana to Colin Munro. Play and a miss! Short in length and around off, Munro tries powering it down the ground but fails to put bat on ball.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. Slower delivery again, on the pads, Guptill works it to the left of fine leg and crosses for a run.
Isuru Udana to Colin Munro. Edged again. Slower delivery, it's short and wide outside off, Munro swishes and edges it down to third man for a single.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. Fullish and outside off, driven down the ground to long off for a single.
Powerplay 2 signalled! Now 4 fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over. Don't think the match will last that long though. So this should be the final Powerplay.
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. FOUR! Edged and a boundary. No slip in place. Back of a length delivery outside off, angling away, Munro pushes inside the line and edges it past the keeper for a boundary. 77 runs in the Powerplay 1, another 60 needed!
Thisara Perera to Colin Munro. Good length ball on off, Munro sits back inside the crease and uses his lovely hands to punch. But he finds the cover fielder.
Thisara Perera to Martin Guptill. Up and just over mid off. Fuller and outside off, Guptill goes hard and gets it away off the toe end of the bat. It flies and just clears mid off for a single.
Thisara Perera to Martin Guptill. Stays on the back foot and punches it on the off side.
Thisara Perera to Martin Guptill. FOUR! Much-better this time from Guptill. He fetches a short delivery from wide outside off and punishes it via a short-arm jab. Good connection and it races away to the deep mid-wicket fence.
Thisara Perera to Martin Guptill. Starts with a good length delivery outside off, Guptill forces it to covers. Once again it's not from the middle of the bat. Struggling to time his shots.
Thisara Perera is introduced into the attack now.
Isuru Udana to Colin Munro. A low full toss on middle and off, Munro shows a straight bat and pushes it out on the off side. 9 from Isuru's first over, 69 needed more for a win.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. On a length around middle, Guptill tries to heave it over the leg side but it takes the bottom half of his blade and it travels to deep square leg for a single. A bit scratchy from Guptill so far.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. FOUR! Another edgy boundary for Guptill who is riding on his luck at the moment. Udana goes short this time, a well-directed delivery, Martin tries to pull but it takes the top edge and flies over first slip for a boundary.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. FOUR! Streaky! Width on offer outside off, Guptill goes chasing after it and throws his bat at it. The ball kisses the toe end and screams away to the third man fence.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. Beaten! Shortish and on middle, Guptill throws the kitchen sink at it but fails to make any connection.
Gully has come out now.
Isuru Udana to Martin Guptill. Starts with a delivery around off, angling away, Guptill drives it off his front foot to mid off.
Isuru Udana to bowl now. He has a wide first slip in place along with a gully.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. FOUR! It nearly went into the hands of the square leg fielder inside the ring. Lakmal gets too straight with his line and serves a fuller length ball. Munro flicks it aerially past the in-ring fielder for a boundary.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. A length ball angling across the batsman, it's outside off and driven square of the wicket on the off side for two.
Suranga Lakmal to Martin Guptill. Goes on the back foot and punches it to the left of mid off for a quick single.
Suranga Lakmal to Martin Guptill. Slower short ball on middle and leg at 128 kph, Guptill pulls it behind square leg for a brace.
Suranga Lakmal to Martin Guptill. Lands it on a length and outside off, holding its line, Martin takes his front leg forward to cover the line and then lets it go to the keeper.
Suranga Lakmal to Martin Guptill. Good length ball on off, defended on the off side.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. 50 up for New Zealand! Back of a length delivery on middle, Munro stands tall inside the crease and pulls it through square leg. Udana runs across to his left in the deep and dives to stop the ball with one hand. He then immediately releases to the fine leg fielder who sends it back in play. Two taken by then.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Pitches it up and around off, Guptill makes some room and hits it over covers. Not much timing but it's good enough for a run.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Malinga eyes a yorker but a low full toss is all he gets. It's on the pads and Guptill tickles it through square leg for a couple of runs.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. Fuller and angled in on middle at 134 kph, Munro goes hard at it and tries to flick but it takes the inside edge and runs behind square leg for a single.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. A typical fast bowler's reply! Fast and furious bouncer. On middle, Munro immediately lets it go over. The square leg umpire is happy with the height of the delivery.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. FOUR! Not much thinking going into the bowling, it seems. The third man is up and Malinga bowls a slower short ball outside off. Munro doesn't need second invitation to punish it over backward point.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Too full and around leg, Munro flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 21 in the last two overs and New Zealand are going smoothly in this low run chase.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Switches to 'round the wicket and angles in a length ball on off, Munro defends it off the back foot.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. SIX! That's the charge from Munro and he benefits with a biggie. Smart thinking from the batsman. He realizes that the bowler will alter his length after going for a boundary last ball and immediately shimmies down the track. He receives what he anticipated and then sends it packing over long on for a maximum.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. FOUR! No protection in the deep on the off side and it's a poor line to bowl. Short and wide outside off, Munro accepts the gift gleefully and slaps it over cover-point.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Too full in length around leg, Colin tries to flick but goes very hard at it. Fails to connect and it goes off his pads to mid-wicket. Looks for a run but his partner shouts a loud no to send him back.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Clips a full ball through mid-wicket and crosses for a run. Thirimanne in the deep slides to stop the ball but then fumbles while picking it up. The batsmen cross for one more time.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Wide! Slips a good length ball down the leg side, Munro tries to flick but misses. It swings after going past the batsman and the keeper does really well to collect it with a dive to his right.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. FOUR! Pulls and pulls it well this time. Malinga bangs in another short ball to Guptill, who eases himself on top of the bounce and pulls it behind square leg. No chance for the fielder in the deep this time.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. Another inside edge onto the pads. The 'round the wicket angle from Malinga is testing Munro here. He once again tries stroking it through covers but gets an inside edge onto the pads. It deflects in front of cover-point and they cross for a run.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. Malinga goes searching for the blockhole again, Munro does well to dig it out to the off side.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Bowls it short and on off, it's pulled across the line but straight to the deep square leg fielder for a run.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. Sharp delivery. Slinga spears it very full and around middle and leg, Munro tries flicking but it goes off the inside half to fine leg. A single taken.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. Nearly drags it on. Munro is really lucky. Malinga changes his angle to come from 'round the wicket. He drops it on a length wide outside off and Colin tries to drive it away from his body. But he gets a thick inside edge onto the pads and the ball ricochets to point.
Suranga Lakmal to Martin Guptill. Swing and a miss! A touch short in length outside off, Guptill winds up for a big shot across the line and has a massive swing of his bat. But he fails to connect. Believe me, had he connected, it would have gone out of the stadium. Third 3-run over in a row.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total.
Suranga Lakmal to Martin Guptill. Up and over gully. Short in length and outside off, Guptill advances down the track and then at the last moment uses his wrists to loft it over the infield. The third man cuts it off and they cross for a run.
Suranga Lakmal to Martin Guptill. Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Suranga Lakmal to Martin Guptill. Back of a length delivery in the zone outside off, Guptill blocks it off his back foot.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Desperate shout for an lbw! A delivery going down the leg side, Munro tries to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. The bowler appeals but it has pitched outside leg. The batsmen meanwhile have crossed for a leg bye.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Goes fuller and on off, Martin pushes it out to mid on to end the over. Again 3 coming from the over, just like the last one.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Play and a miss! Width on offer outside off, Guptill tries slamming it over point but fails to make any connection.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. Malinga varies his pace this time and delivers a slower one on the pads, Munro does well to play it late and with soft hands towards mid-wicket. Third single of the over taken.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. A dipping yorker on middle, Munro brings his bat down in time to keep it out towards mid off.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Good length delivery just around off, Guptill stays back and punches it through covers for one more in the over. Looking in no hurry.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. Good timing. Short in length on middle and off, Munro lifts his front leg up and then pulls it to the right of the fine leg fielder. A single is taken.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Serves it on a length around middle and leg, Colin eases it to the left of the mid on fielder and takes a single.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Pitches it up and on middle, some inward movement there, Munro pushes it back with a straight bat.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Watchfully left! Good length ball in the corridor outside off, Munro covers his stumps and then shoulders arms.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. A touch short and in the line of the stumps, Munro gives the charge and powers it behind square leg for a brace.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. On and around off, defended from the back foot.
Suranga Lakmal to Colin Munro. Movement straightaway for Lakmal. On a good length around middle, shaping in, Munro tries to swing it across the line but misses and is hit on the thigh pad.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. FOUR! CRUNCHED! Short and on middle, Guptill rocks back and smashes the ball through backward square leg. Ends the first with a boundary. A good one for the Kiwis.
Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. Full and on the pads, Munro works it through square leg for a single. He too is off the mark.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. A single! Good batting! This is a good delivery so Guptill pushes it to mid off and gets to the other end. The throw by the fielder there is a wild one to the keeper but no extra runs given.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. FOUR! Hammered! Off the mark with a boundary! Width on offer outside off, Guptill throws his hands at it. The ball flies over covers and a boundary results.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Edged and just short! Almost the ideal start for Sri Lanka. Malinga lands it on a length and around off, shapes away a little. Guptill pokes at it away from his body, an outside edge which falls just short of the diving second slip fielder. He stops it well though.
Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. A confident drive to begin with! On a length and around off, Guptill hits it hard but finds covers.
We are back for the second innings! The umpires are out in the middle. Sri Lankan players are in a huddle and before they take their position in the field. Martin Guptill and Colin Munro are the openers for New Zealand. Lasith Malinga to start the proceedings with the first new ball for Sri Lanka.