NZ beat SL by 5 wickets | Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st T20I Match - Commentary

That's all from this match. Sri Lanka fought well but due to the errors in the field, they failed to cross the line. New Zealand showed great character in spite of a slow start in the chase and would be feeling a lot confident about themselves. The second T20I is on Tuesday, 3rd September, once again in Pallekele. Do join us at 1900 local (1330 GMT) for all the action. Cheers!

New Zealand skipper, Tim Southee starts by saying that the way Daryl Mitchell finished it off was great. Further says that they were also lucky that a couple of shots hit the middle of the bat. Calls it a pleasing win and is excited to win a match like this. Adds that the experienced partnership (between Taylor and de Grandhomme) helped them get back in the match and the young guys then played with freedom at the end. Admits that they would have batted had they won the toss. On his unbeaten record as a captain, Tim replies that it's a great group of guys with good mix of youth and experience and that makes his job easier.

Sri Lankan skipper, Lasith Malinga says that the young players played well having less experience of playing under lights. Credits them for the partnership they built and feels that this is the way forward for the team. Malinga reckons with this side they need to take the opportunities which they failed to take in this game. Adds that they gave away more than 10 in an over for 3-4 overs on the trot which took the match away from them. On the areas of improvement, Lasith tells that the bowlers need to execute their plans better and hone their skills especially for the wet conditions. Further adds that this is the time for them to work on their mental strength.

Man of the Match, Ross Taylor says that they knew it was going to be a tough target, mainly after a slow start. He's satisfied to get a few boundaries that kept the required run rate under check. Praises Daryl and Santner's knocks towards the end. Feels that the over in which Colin de Grandhomme hit Isuru Udana for a four and a six, the momentum started to shift. Admits that they didn't field the way they would have liked to. Mentions that the T20 World Cup is only one year away and they are focusing on it.

A quick interview with Daryl Mitchell who played a key role in this win for New Zealand. He says that they were just looking to have fun and is happy to get his side home. On his first game in Asia, Mitchell replies that it was good fun and he enjoyed every part of it. On facing Malinga, Daryl mentions that he is a world-class bowler and they were just looking to rotate the strike.

For Sri Lanka, it was a dismal bowling performance, however, they started on a bright note. Lasith Malinga once again impressed but his last over which went for 15 runs hurt Sri Lanka in a way. Debutant Wanindu Hasaranga was brilliant in his four overs and snapped a couple of wickets. Two dropped catches of Ross Taylor eventually came back to haunt the Islanders. Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka managed to put up a challenging total on the board all thanks to Kusal Mendis' eye-catching knock and a late flourish from Isuru Udana.

Excellent win for New Zealand to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match T20I series. It was an exciting game of Twenty20 with both sides competing hard but the Black Caps held on to their nerves to come out on top. The chase started on a wrong note for the Kiwis as they lost their top three wickets quite cheaply. But then Taylor and de Grandhomme did the rescue job with a 79-run stand off just 38 balls. That partnership brought the visitors on the cusp of victory. Although, the Lankans tried to return in the match by removing both Rosco and Colin, Daryl 'Mitchell' Santner made sure that New Zealand cross the line with 3 balls remaining.

Isuru Udana to Daryl Mitchell. THAT IS IT! Another slower ball on the pads, Mitchell tucks it wide of deep mid-wicket with soft hands and calls for two straightaway. They get it with ease. NEW ZEALAND WIN BY 5 WICKETS!

Isuru Udana to Daryl Mitchell. Brilliant bowling. Slower ball outside off, Mitchell swings his bat at it but misses. Perera dives in front and gathers it. He is quick to get up and save the bye.

Isuru Udana to Mitchell Santner. BYE! Risky run, that! A slower delivery, dropping on a fuller length from the back of Udana's hand. Santner swings early and misses. They attempt for a bye and Mitchell dives at the striker's end as Perera misses the stumps. Would have been a goner in case of a direct hit.

Lasith Malinga to Daryl Mitchell. Full toss on middle, Mitchell drives it straight but the ball gets stuck on Malinga's boot. Mitchell comes out for a single but he's sent back. Lasith has a shy at the keeper's end but it hits Daryl who was putting a desperate dive to get back in. Malinga appeals for obstructing the field but the umpire is unmoved. 3 needed off the last over now.

Lasith Malinga to Daryl Mitchell. SIX! Just over and this probably kills the game. Full on off, Mitchell smashes it over long on. The fielder in the deep thinks he has a chance, he puts in an effort but misses.

Lasith Malinga to Mitchell Santner. Full on middle, Santner comes down the track and strokes it towards long off for one. 9 needed off 8 now.

Lasith Malinga to Mitchell Santner. Good ball but also good running. Full on middle and off, Santner looks to play it straight but the ball goes off the outer half of his bat towards point. They call for two and get it.

Lasith Malinga to Daryl Mitchell. Slower again. This time Mitchell connects and the ball goes towards long on on a bounce for a single. 12 off 10 now.

Lasith Malinga to Daryl Mitchell. Good comeback! Slower ball outside off, Mitchell swings his bat at it but misses.

Lasith Malinga to Daryl Mitchell. FIVE WIDES! Malinga bowls a wild one under pressure. Looks like the ball slipped out of his fingers. Full toss way outside leg, Mitchell swings his bat but misses. Perera dives to his left but cannot stop the ball.

Lasith Malinga to bowl the all-important penultimate over. 18 needed off 12 balls.

Isuru Udana to Mitchell Santner. Full and on middle, Santner eases it through wide mid on and comes back for the second run. 13 from the over. Going right down to the wire.

Isuru Udana to Mitchell Santner. SIX! This has gone the distance. What a shot under pressure. Santner has done that in the Indian T20 League for Chennai as well. Fullish and right in the slot for the batsman, Santner goes full monty and dispatches it over long on, just over the leaping fielder at the edge of the rope.

Isuru Udana to Daryl Mitchell. NOT OUT! Udana delivers it very full around leg, Daryl tries his best to flick it on the leg side but misses. He is struck on the pads, they appeal but the umpire disagrees. The batsmen cross. Malinga takes the DRS but the Ball Tracker confirms that it pitched outside leg. Get on with the game, 26 needed more off 14 balls.

Appeal for an lbw! It's not given and Lasith Malinga has taken the DRS. Has it pitched outside leg? Yes, quite wide outside leg.

Isuru Udana to Mitchell Santner. Slants in a very full ball close to off, Santner forces it down to long on for a run. He looks for another single but it's not on.

Isuru Udana to Mitchell Santner. Goes for a yorker but it turns out to be a low full toss outside off, Santner chips it over mid off and returns for the second run.

Isuru Udana to Daryl Mitchell. Nicely bowled. He angles a length delivery wide outside off, Mitchell reaches out for it and mistimes his drive towards extra cover. A single is taken.

Isuru Udana to bowl the 18th over. 2-0-24-0, so far. He needs to do better than this.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Mitchell Santner. Wrong 'un, flatter and shorter outside off, Santner hangs back to punch it through the line but misses. Hasaranga finishes his spell. Fantastic debut, 4-0-21-2!

Back again for the remainder of the chase. 31 needed off 19 balls. Mitchell Santner has joined Daryl Mitchell in the middle. Wanindu to finish his final over...

Update 2229 local - We are hearing that the rain has stopped and the covers are coming off. The match is supposed to resume in the next 10 minutes or so. Let's be positive.

COVERS ARE ON! It was getting watertight but the heavens have opened up and the players are off the field. Sri Lanka will desperately hope that the rain stops and they come out to play again. Because New Zealand are just about ahead in this game according to the DLS method. They are 5 runs ahead according to the calculations that we are yet to learn. Facepalm.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. OUT! Big blow to the Kiwis! The debutant has trapped the big fish in front. A lovely leg spinner by Wanindu, he lands it full on the leg stump line and gets it to straighten from there. Taylor bends his back leg in an attempt to slog it across the line. But he misses the ball completely and is rapped on the pads. They appeal and the finger goes up. Deep down Rosco knows that he is gone as he swings his bat in disgust and then takes a chance by going for the DRS. The Ultra Edge detects nothing and the Ball Tracker returns three reds. Taylor walks back dejected and all the players follow him back in the hut as the rain has picked up its intensity.

Given out! Taylor is trapped in front. Rosco has taken the decision upstairs. Heavens have opened up as well. It's all happening at the moment. The Ultra Edge has found no edge and the Ball Tracker indicates that everything is adjacent. Body blow to New Zealand.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Loopy and on off, Taylor drives with the spin but finds the cover fielder.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Daryl Mitchell. Uses his feet to come down the track and eases it to long on for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Generously tossed up delivery, full and wide outside off, Taylor strokes his drive straight to extra cover. The fielder fumbles slightly and they cross for a run.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Daryl Mitchell. Flatter and shorter on off, Daryl moves back and punches it down to long on for a run.

Ross Taylor is cramping up. He is lying flat on the ground and the physio is giving him some stretching exercise. He has played a gem so far and New Zealand need him back on his feet quickly. Wanindu Hasaranga to bowl his last over...

Kasun Rajitha to Ross Taylor. FOUR! Brilliant shot! Low full toss outside off, Taylor drags it and hits it hard towards cow corner for a boundary. 17 runs off the over. 34 needed off the last 4 now.

Kasun Rajitha to Daryl Mitchell. Low full toss outside off, Mitchell moves across and milks it to long on for a single.

Kasun Rajitha to Daryl Mitchell. SIX! BOOM! Out of here! Good length ball around off, Mitchell picks it early and smashes it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Kasun Rajitha to Ross Taylor. Low full toss outside off, Taylor drags it towards deep square leg for a single.

Kasun Rajitha to Ross Taylor. AERIAL... DROPPED! Full toss on middle, Taylor tries to hoick it over mid-wicket but fails to middle his shot. The ball goes high in the air, Shehan Jayasuriya runs back from square leg, puts in a dive but the ball goes right through his hands. Lucky escape for Rosco. Two more added to the total.

Kasun Rajitha to Daryl Mitchell. Lucky runs! Slower delivery, landing full and close to off, Mitchell winds up for a big heave across the line but inside edges it past the leg stump. The short fine leg fielder pulls it back and the batsmen get three runs.

Kasun Rajitha (3-0-27-0) comes on to bowl.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Play and a miss! Floated ball outside off, turning away, Ross tries slogging against the spin and misses. Perera breaks the stumps but nothing doing. 3 from the over, 11 in the last two, Sri Lanka making a comeback here. 51 needed off the last five overs.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Daryl Mitchell. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Daryl Mitchell. Edgy! Slow spin from a fuller length around off, Mitchell tries playing across the line but it takes a leading edge and rolls to point.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Flatter and shorter close to off, Rosco initially shapes up for the slog sweep but then changes his mind. He chops it down towards cover-point for a run.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Loopy and full on off, Taylor pushes it to covers where the fielder makes a diving stop. Dot ball.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Daryl Mitchell. Tossed up ball landing full on middle, Mitchell eases his flick in the gap at mid-wicket for a run.

Wanindu Hasaranga (2-0-15-1) is back to the bowling crease.

Lasith Malinga to Daryl Mitchell. A low full toss on off, Mitchell only manages to push it as far as the cover region and takes a run. 8 runs and a wicket from the over, a good one given the situation.

Lasith Malinga to Daryl Mitchell. Back of a length ball on middle and leg, angling down, Daryl tries to glance but misses. It goes off his thigh pad to fine leg and they take a couple of leg byes.

Lasith Malinga to Daryl Mitchell. Nails his yorker this time, around off, Mitchell does well to dig it out safely.

Daryl Mitchell is the new man in.

Lasith Malinga to Colin de Grandhomme. OUT! Wicket number 99 for Lasith Malinga and he now has become the leading wicket-taker in this format. What a moment to do so! His team needed a breakthrough and the Slinga has provided just that. A low dipping full toss in the line of the stumps, de Grandhomme is late with the swing of his bat and it goes on to hit the base of the middle stump. The crowd erupts. The dangerous stand is broken. 57 needed off 39 balls and Sri Lanka have got an opening here.

Lasith Malinga to Ross Taylor. Malinga fails to hit the yorker mark again, it's a full toss and Taylor pushes it out through mid-wicket for a single.

Lasith Malinga to Ross Taylor. FOUR LEG BYES! Wrong line to begin a new spell. Malinga slips a very full ball on leg, Taylor fails to flick as he is beaten for pace. The ball though clips his pads and races away to fine leg for a boundary. Doesn't matter how the runs come in this format as long as they come.

Lasith Malinga is back on to restore some sanity. New Zealand are running away with the game here. 62 needed off 42 balls.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! No question about this one. It has cleared the ropes with ease. Full on off, de Grandhomme smashes it over covers for a maximum. 17 off the over. 61 off the last 4. New Zealand on the driver's seat now as they need 62 in 42 now.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Just about hits the turf before the ropes! Slower ball on off, it is slightly short. De Grandhomme picks the length early and whacks his pull over mid-wicket. The ball hits the ground marginally before the ropes and it has been signalled as four!

Isuru Udana to Ross Taylor. Fuller on the pads, Taylor turns it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Isuru Udana to Ross Taylor. This is smart batting. Full on middle and leg, Taylor flicks it with soft hands towards cow corner. The man at long on is deep, Taylor and Colin are quick too and they get the second with ease!

Isuru Udana to Ross Taylor. Slower ball on the pads, Taylor glances it towards mid-wicket and gets a couple.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. Hit hard but to the man at long off. Fuller on off, Colin smacks it hard but towards long off for one.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. WIDE! Misses his mark with the slower one. Bowls it down the leg side. De Grandhomme swings his bat but misses.

Akila Dananjaya to Ross Taylor. IN THE AIR...AND DROPPED! Shanaka has put down a relatively easy chance! Flighted on off, Taylor gets down on one knee and attempts a slog sweep yet again. He gets the height but not the distance. It goes to the right of Shanaka who is standing at deep mid-wicket. He covers good ground and gets to the ball. But it goes in and out of his hands. The batters meanwhile take a couple. An easy chance has gone down abegging, how costly will it prove?

Akila Dananjaya to Colin de Grandhomme. Shorter on off, de Grandhomme punches it towards off side for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to Ross Taylor. Another sweep but this one goes all along the ground towards deep square leg for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to Ross Taylor. SIX! Two in two! First the pull and now the sweep. This is Taylor's zone and everyone knows it. Flighted on off, Taylor gets down on one knee and slog sweeps it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. Brings up the 50-run stand between the duo.

Akila Dananjaya to Ross Taylor. SIX! Short and punished! Leg break on off, Taylor picks the length early and rocks onto his back foot. He pulls it with power over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Akila Dananjaya to Colin de Grandhomme. Off spinner on off, de Grandhomme turns it towards square leg for a single.

Akila Dananjaya is back!

Kasun Rajitha to Ross Taylor. FOUR! 17 runs off the over! Momentum shifting. A delivery on the pads and Ross has tickled it wide of short fine leg for an easy boundary.

Kasun Rajitha to Ross Taylor. Strides forward and knocks it down to wide long on for two.

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. Works it with soft hands to short fine leg for one.

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! Biggie off a Free Hit. Rajitha tries to nail a yorker but de Grandhomme shimmies down the track to take it on the full. He then smashes it out of the stadium over long off.

FREE HIT TIME!

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. No ball! Poor at this stage. Rajitha looks to bowl a yorker but ends up bowling a high full toss and the line is also down leg. The umpire signals it a no ball. Rajitha is quick to apologize.

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. Gets one on the pads, de Grandhomme flicks it fine towards fine leg. The fielder is deep and that allows the batsmen to get a couple.

Kasun Rajitha to Ross Taylor. Fuller length around off, Taylor pushes it to mid off and takes off for a quick single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Floated on off, Taylor nudges it towards mid off and calls for a quick single. The fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end. Hasaranga gathers and hits the stumps but Taylor is safely in by then.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Colin de Grandhomme. Straight as an arrow. Almost takes the umpire. Flighted on off, De Grandhomme drives it straight. The ball hits the fingers of Hasaranga and then goes off the umpire's boot towards long on for one. That was very close to the stumps and had it clipped the sticks, Rosco would have been in trouble.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Follows it up with a single towards mid-wicket.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. FOUR! Trademark Taylor! Tossed up on middle and leg, Ross gets down on one knee and hammers his sweep through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Floated on off, Ross strokes it towards cover for a couple.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Colin de Grandhomme. Slower on the pads, Taylor looks to flick but the ball goes off the pads towards the third man region. There is a stifled appeal but nothing from the umpire. The batters take a leg bye. Sri Lanka do not take the review as it looked to be going down.

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. Full ball on the pads, de Grandhomme flicks it off his pads towards mid-wicket and the batsmen cross for a single.

Kasun Rajitha to Ross Taylor. Length ball outside off, Taylor drives it through covers and gets to the other end.

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. De Grandhomme flicks a fuller one off his pads to short fine leg for a single.

Kasun Rajitha to Ross Taylor. Nice shot. Rajitha bowls on a length and outside off, Taylor drives through covers but the fielder cuts it off. But the misfield allows a single.

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. Fuller in length and on middle, de Grandhomme looks to flick it to the leg side but gets a leading edge past the bowler. The batsmen cross for a single.

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. Full toss on middle, Colin punches it down to long on for a couple.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Slower through the air around off. Taylor looks to drive but misses. Perera takes the bails off in a flash but Ross never left the crease. 130 needed in 72 balls.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Colin de Grandhomme. Floated on off, CdG strokes it to cover for one.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Good effort but cannot stop it from going to the fence. Shorter on off, de Grandhomme waits and then plays it late through to the third man region. Dickwella in the deep chases it and almost pulls it back but the ball hits his leg and goes away to the fence.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ross Taylor. Shorter on off, Taylor punches it on the ground to the off side for a single.

Ross Taylor comes out in the middle to bail his team out of troubled waters.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Tim Seifert. OUT! Caught! Wicket off his second ball in T20Is! Not the best ball but he won't mind that a bit. Flatter ball, short and wide outside off, Seifert looks to cut but fails to middle it properly. The ball kisses the outside edge and goes straight into the mitts of Kusal Perera. He takes a sharp catch behind the stumps. New Zealand's chase is going from bad to worse. Wanindu is up in joy! This is just brilliant from the hosts.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Tim Seifert. Nice ball to start his T20I career! Leg spinner on off, Seifert gets down on one knee and looks to sweep but misses.

Bowling change. Wanindu Hasaranga, the debutant, comes on now.

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. Jaffa! Yorker and swinging away. It is on off, de Grandhomme does well to get his bat down in time. Excellent over from Rajitha. Just 3 off his first.

Kasun Rajitha to Tim Seifert. Good length ball on off, Tim punches it to the off side for a single.

Kasun Rajitha to Colin de Grandhomme. Nice change of pace. Rajitha takes the pace off this one and bowls it full around off. De Grandhomme hits it towards long on for one.

Kasun Rajitha to Tim Seifert. Good length ball on middle and leg, Seifert pushes it towards mid on and gets a single.

Kasun Rajitha to Tim Seifert. Another play and a miss. Once again Rajitha bowls it outside off, Tim swings his bat but gets no connection.

Kasun Rajitha to Tim Seifert. Pacy ball outside off. Rajitha extracts extra bounce on this. Seifert throws his bat at it but misses.

Bowling change. Kasun Rajitha comes on now.

Isuru Udana to Tim Seifert. Length delivery on off, TS punches it towards point and gets a single. New Zealand are 36/2 at the end of Powerplay. They need 139 in 84 balls now. Clearly the Powerplay has once again belonged to Sri Lanka.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. Smart bowling. Slower one on off and middle, Colin looks to turn it on the leg side but gets a leading edge which goes to point. They get a single.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. Play and a miss! Fuller outside off, de Grandhomme has a poke at it but misses.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. Excellent bowling. Bowls a wide yorker outside off. De Grandhomme tries to hit it but misses. There is a stifled appeal but nothing from the umpire.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. WIDE! Misses his line with the slower one as he bowls it down the leg side. De Grandhomme swings his bat at it but misses.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Nicely played! Full around off, De Grandhomme gets on his front foot and creams it through cover-point for a boundary. No fielder moved.

Isuru Udana to Colin de Grandhomme. Starts with a slower ball on the pads. De Grandhomme flicks but finds short fine leg.

Isuru Udana comes on now. So a double bowling change from Lanka.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Colin de Grandhomme. Goes on the back foot and turns it through mid-wicket for a run. We have five overs done, enough to constitute a T20I match.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Shot! Jayasuriya keeps his length on the shorter side outside off, Colin de Grandhomme gives himself room and thumps his back foot punch through extra cover.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Tim Seifert. Shortish again, on off, Seifert gets back and pushes it to the right of mid-wicket for a run.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Tim Seifert. Fires in a flatter ball on off, Tim tries to force it through the line but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Tim Seifert. FOUR! Easy hit! Full and flighted around leg, Seifert goes down on one knee and nails his slog sweep behind square leg for a boundary.

Long on comes up.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Tim Seifert. Shortish and on off, Seifert punches it off the back foot but finds the cover fielder.

Shehan Jayasuriya comes on to bowl replacing his skipper.

Akila Dananjaya to Colin de Grandhomme. Short on off, Colin punches it to cover-point.

Akila Dananjaya to Tim Seifert. Floated on off, Seifert squeezes it towards cover and gets to the other end.

The bowler is rushing through his over. Reason - It is drizzling slightly and Sri Lanka would want to get the required five overs to constitute a T20 match.

Akila Dananjaya to Tim Seifert. Darted on the pads, TS looks to flick but the ball comes off his pad.

Akila Dananjaya to Tim Seifert. Confusion but no casualty! Tossed up on middle, Tim tucks it towards mid-wicket. De Grandhomme comes out for a single but is rightfully sent back. Luckily Colin is back in time.

Colin de Grandhomme comes out to bat with New Zealand in crisis.

Akila Dananjaya to Martin Guptill. OUT! Guptill holes out! The required run rate was scooting up and the scoreboard pressure gets the better of Guptill. Tossed up delivery on off, Guptill looks to slog it over mid-wicket with the spin. He gets the height but not the distance. The ball goes straight down the throat of deep mid-wicket. Shanaka in the deep fumbles and almost spills it but in the end manages to get hold of it. Guptill's ordinary 2019 continues.

Akila Dananjaya to Martin Guptill. WIDE! Misses his line and darts one down the leg side. Guptill misses his flick and it has been wided.

Akila Dananjaya to Martin Guptill. Off spinner on off, it keeps low after pitching. Guptill does well to get down and sweep it to short fine leg.

Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Once again a brilliant piece of fielding! Dasun Shanaka this time. A delightful back foot punch by Guptill, well-timed but not well-placed. Shanaka dives to stop the speeding ball. The batsmen still cross for a run.

Lasith Malinga to Tim Seifert. Great stop, Dickwella! Saves a certain boundary. This one probably slips out of Malinga's hand. It's a full toss down the leg side, Seifert tries to make use of it but fails to middle his shot. It goes off the bottom half towards short fine leg where Niroshan makes a fine diving stop. A single taken.

Second slip comes out.

Lasith Malinga to Tim Seifert. Malinga goes very full again, on middle, Seifert tickles it through square leg for a couple of runs.

Lasith Malinga to Tim Seifert. Squares up Seifert! Malinga spears in a fuller length ball on middle and gets it to nip away a shade. Tim is glued to the back foot as he attempts to flick. He is opened up completely and the leading edge rolls safely to covers.

Two slips in place.

Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Another outswinger, on a length and close to the off stump, Martin moves back and pushes it with gentle hands to mid on. They take a quick run.

Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Beaten! A length delivery in the zone outside off, shaping away, Guptill flirts with it tentatively and misses.

Akila Dananjaya to Tim Seifert. Flatter one on middle and leg, Seifert works it to mid-wicket and takes off for a run. Till the ball gets fielded in the deep, the batsmen have enough time for the second run and they get it with ease.

Akila Dananjaya to Martin Guptill. Tossed up delivery outside off, Guptill just runs it late past the keeper to the short third man region for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to Martin Guptill. FOUR! Dananjaya attempts a leg spinner outside off but bowls a fuller one. Guptill hits through the line and lofts it up and over mid off for a boundary.

Akila Dananjaya to Martin Guptill. A flatter one on middle, Guptill pulls it behind square on the leg side where Isuru Udana misfields and allows the batsmen to take a couple.

Akila Dananjaya to Tim Seifert. Flatter one on off, Seifert flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to Martin Guptill. Tossed up on the off stump, Guptill drives it to long on and gets to the other end.

Akila Dananjaya to bowl from the other end.

Lasith Malinga to Tim Seifert. Gem to end the over! Just a run and a wicket of Malinga's first. Champion stuff to begin with. The last ball is full outside off, Tim ocne again goes chasing after it but is lucky enough not to edge it.

Lasith Malinga to Tim Seifert. WOW! This man is a genius. Yorker again. This is outside off, Seifert goes after it but misses.

Tim Seifert comes out to bat.

Lasith Malinga to Colin Munro. OUT! Timber! This is trademark Malinga! He has been in international cricket for more than a decade but the batter still cannot get the better of his best ball. Inswinging yorker on middle and off. Nightmare ball for any batsmen first up. Munro is the unlucky player who gets that. Colin is late getting his bat down in time and the ball goes through to hit the middle pole. Golden duck for Munro on his return to the international fold. Wicket number 98 in T20Is for Slinga Malinga!

Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. New Zealand's scoreboard gets underway! Fuller on middle and leg, Guptill shuffle across and flicks it wide of mid on for a single.

Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Hits the deck hard on top of middle and leg. Guptill defends it with a straight bat.

Lasith Malinga to Martin Guptill. Malinga starts right on the money! Good length ball on off, it tails away after pitching. Guptill looks to defend but misses and the ball just about misses the outside edge. There is a slight appeal but nothing from the umpire. Solid start.

We are back for the chase! Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankan skipper is having a word with his troops before they take the field. Martin Guptill and Colin Munro, the dashing duo walk out to the middle to open the innings for New Zealand. There are a few drops of rain coming down. Just like New Zealand, it will be the skipper of Sri Lanka who will start with the new ball.