Highlights of World Cup 2019 match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
New Zealand guns down Sri Lanka's paltry score of 136 in 16.1 overs. Colin Munro and Martin Guptill remain unbeaten on 58 and 73 respectively. This is the 12th time when a team has won by 10 wickets in a World Cup.
Four. Malinga digs in short into the body and Guptill pulls it to square fine-leg. NZ 8 runs away.
Six. Jeevan Mendis into the attack, Guptill steps out to the fifth ball and lofts it out of the stadium. New set of balls coming out. This has been complete domination by the New Zealanders. 17 more needed.
Guptill reaches his fifty with a six over long-on, 100-run opening partnership also up. At the other end, Munro too gets to his fifty. A perfect start to the World Cup for both the Kiwi openers.
The match is more or less over for Sri Lanka, as Guptill and Munro's opening stand take New Zealand towards victory. The Lankan pacers failed to make the start they would have like to. NZ 91/0 in 12 overs.
First bowling change by Sri Lanka. Left-arm pacer Udana into the attack and Guptill cracks him for two fours. New Zealand acing the chase.
Four. Lakmal strays on to the pads and Munro tucks it to square leg with a flick.
Munro has broken the shackles with a four and a six off Suranga Lakmal. After being hit, Lakmal goes round the wicket to cramp the Kiwi opener to play his shots. NZ 40/0 in 6 overs (Munro 22*, Guptill 16*).
Munro has struggled against Malinga but not Guptill who finished the over with a pull shot for a boundary. Not much of seam and swing from the two Lankan bowlers as the Kiwi openers get off to a steady start in a small chase. NZ 26/0 in 5 overs.
Sri Lanka need wickets and have started the proceedings with Malinga and Suranga Lakmal. Guptill and Munro are off the blocks in chase of 136.
The second ball of the first over, Malinga manages to induce an outside edge off Guptill but falls short of second slip. Guptill then punishes Malinga by hitting him for two boundaries. NZ 10/0 in 1 over.
Everyone had predicted this World Cup to be a high-scoring one but yesterday's game and today's Sri Lanka-New Zealand has proved otherwise. Sri Lanka can take inspiration from 2013 Champions Trophy clash where with a similar scoreline, Lanka almost won the game.
Thats it! Sri Lanka 136 All Out! Malinga is given not out on the score at 135 by the Third Umpire after it looked Santner grounded the ball while diving near the boundary. But on the next ball, he is clean bowled by Ferguson. Dimuth Karunaratne carrying the bat has been the only bright spot in a woeful performance from Sri Lanka which beats its own record for the lowest ODI total at Sophia Gardens which was 138 all out in the Champions Trophy 2013, coincidentally against the same opposition New Zealand.
Fifty for Karunaratne! The Sri Lankan captain has been the lone warrior in the middle of a batting collapse. He now two fifties in his second ODI as captain. Sri Lanka 135/9 in 29 overs.
OUT! First wicket for Trent Boult. The left-armer bowls a short one which Lakmal is unable to control his shot and Santner runs in from point to take a comfortable catch. Sri Lanka 131/9 in 28.1 overs.
Free-Hit! Lakmal top edges a bouncer off Ferguson but the umpire calls for a no-ball for overstepping. Karunaratne moves across the stumps for the Free-hit but ducks under the short ball. Sri Lanka 130/8 in 28 overs.
FOUR! Lockie Ferguson bowls a yorker but Karunaratne moves across the stumps and guides the ball for a boundary behind the wicket. Sri Lanka 128/8 in 27.3 overs.
Just five balls in, Suranga Lakmal seems to have damaged the toe end of his bat and asks for a change. He swings twice and misses the ball completely. However, he gets off the mark with a boundary over the cover region. Sri Lanka 122/8 in 27 overs.
Almost another wicket there! Lockie Ferguson bangs one short which surprises Karunaratne. However, the outside edge is too high for Tom Latham to catch. Sri Lanka 117/8 in 26 overs.
Williamson has got all his decisions right today with his bowling changes and setting up attacking fields to put pressure on the Sri Lankan batsman. His counterpart Karunaratne has been looking helpless from the non-striker's end of the pitch as his teammates were undone.
WICKET! Fuller ball from Neesham and new man Isuru Udana chips it straight to Matt Henry at mid-on. Sri Lanka 114/8 in 24.4 overs.
PERERA GONE! Santner flights the ball and Perera tries to dig it out of the crease. However, there is no proper elevation on the ball and it lands safely in the hands of Trent Boult at mid-wicket. Sri Lanka's hope for a recovery cut short. Sri Lanka 112/7 in 24 overs.
Free-Hit and SIX! Neesham goes for the knuckle-ball and the ball slips out of his grip. The first slip picks up the ball. The umpire signals for a no-ball. Thisara Perera makes the most of it as he smashes it over the long-on to bring up the 50-run partnership between him and Karunaratne. Sri Lanka 112/3 in 23 overs.
Put Down! Thisara Perera hits the ball hard but it flies straight at Santner, who has very little time to react. The ball bounces off his fingertips and the batsmen run a single. Sri Lanka 100/6 in 22 overs.
Williamson introduces spin for the first time in the match as he brings on Mitch Santner.
FOUR! Beautiful shot by Karunaratne. Boult bowls one in the slot, on the pads and the Sri Lankan captain picks the balls on the half-volley to guide it over the boundary at wide long-on. Sri Lanka 97/6 in 21 overs.
Boult back in the attack! He gives away just two runs as Karunaratne and Thisara Perera look to rebuild the innings. Sri Lanka 84/6 in 18 overs.
SIX! Grandhomme takes the pace off the ball and Perera smashes it over deep-midwicket for the first six of the innings. Sri Lanka 80/6 in 17 overs.
A couple of hits by Thisara Perera has eased a bit of pressure on the batting side. but New Zealand is hunting in packs. Matt Henry and Trent Boult have put the top order under the wringer and now Grandhomme and Ferguson are turning on the screw.
WICKET! Another one bites the dust! Ferguson angles the ball from outside the offstump and Mendis gets an outside edge which flies to Jimmy Neesham at gully. Sri Lanka in free fall here. Sri Lanka 60/6 in 15.3 overs.
Just over point! Veteran all-rounder Jeevan Mendis is at the crease and he tries to hit over the circle. Trent Boult at point jumps but just misses. Sri Lanka 60/5 in 15 overs.
Mathews gone for a duck! Grandhomme has removed the dangerman. A good length ball and close to the right-hander's body who is unable to move his feet properly and edges it to the keeper for an easy catch. Sri Lanka 59/5 in 14.4 overs.
Colin de Grandhomme is brought into the attack. Sri Lanka is looking to get out of a tough situation and will look up to Angelo Mathews as it has on numerous occasions like these.
Ferguson Strikes! The pacer hits 147mph and the ball cuts back ferociously on to the pads. The Black Caps go up in unison and Rod Tucker raises his finger. Sri Lanka in big trouble. Sri Lanka 53/4 in 11.5 overs.
New Zealand opts for the bowling Powerplay right away and Williamson turns towards Lockie Ferguson's raw pace. Sri Lanka 53/3 in 11.3 overs.
Just one run off the tenth over by Boult. End of first Powerplay. Sri Lanka 51/1 in 10 overs.
GONE! Good length delivery and outside off, with a bit of movement. Kusal Mendis gets a thick outside edge and Martin Guptill dives to this left to take a brilliant catch. Henry is on fire! Sri Lanka 46/3 in 8.2 overs.
HENRY STRIKES AGAIN! In the slot, but the change of pace makes Perera go for the legside but he ends up getting a top-edging the ball. Colin de Grandhomme comes under the ball and takes a comfortable catch. Kusal Mendis is the new batsman. Sri Lanka 46/2 in 8.1 overs .
Perera's counterattacking approach has put the New Zealand pacers on the backfoot who are unable to get the short ball right. Karunaratne tries to play another one close to the body and almost chops it onto the stumps. Sri Lanka 46/1 in 8 overs .
Boult is a bundle of energy on the field. Perera pirouettes inside the crease to guide Henry's short ball towards the fine leg boundary. But Boult sprints across to make a diving save and keeps it down to just two runs. Sri Lanka 41/1 in 7 overs .
Oh my! The Kiwis cant believe its happening again. Karunaratne plays onto the stumps off Boult and the ball hits the stumps but doesnot dislodge the bails.
Perera steps on the gas! Back-to-back boundaries for Kusal Perera. Boult bowls fuller outside offstump and Perera glances it through the covers for the first ball and then drives for another four to put the bowler under pressure. Sri Lanka 35/1 in 5.4 overs.
SMASHED! A short pitch ball and slightly slower, Perera hits it down the ground for a boundary.
Boult is bowling superbly, he hits Perera on the pads but the appeal is turned down by the umpire. Perera almost edges an outswinger on the next. Perera manages to get a thick outside edge on the next one but there was no third man and it runs away for a four. A yorker is dug out by Perera and the batsmen run three. Karunaratne ends the over with a quick single with a nudge towards mid-on. Sri Lanka 20/1 in 4 overs.
Four! Henry is fractionally short and Perera smashes it over extra cover for the second boundary of the innings. There is something Sanath Jayasuriya about that shot. Sri Lanka 12/1 in 3 overs.
Perera lofts the final ball of the over point for a two. New Zealand's pace attack is buzzing. Sri Lanka 7/1 in 2 overs.
Boult tests Karunaratne with a fuller ball outside off-stump and then makes the ball nip one back into southpaw, who is cautious to get his front foot away to avoid another lbw shout.
Kusal Perera is the new batsman in and Henry bowls more on the offstump to invite the left-hander into the drive. Just the four from the over. Trent Boult will bowl the second over. Sri Lanka 4/1 in 1 over.
HENRY STRIKES! Excellent comeback by the pacer. He gets the line right this time and hits Thirimanne on the pads. The appeal is strong but Ian Gould is not sure. Williamson goes for the DRS and its out. Sri Lanka 4/1 in 0.2 overs
FOUR! Short, on the pad by Henry and Thirimanne guides it for a four towards the fine leg boundary.
Matt Henry will open the bowling for New Zealand. Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne will open the innings for Sri Lanka.
Both the teams are out on the field for the national anthems.
Teams:
The Venue: The average score in the last five ODIs played at Sophia Gardens is 261 which could be expected to aid batsmen at some point during the match. Sri Lanka's 138 all out against New Zealand in the 2013 Champions Trophy is the lowest ODI total here at the Welsh capital.
TOSS: Kane Williamson wins the toss and elects to field.
Pitch Report: There is a good amount of grass left on the pitch, which will excite Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Lasith Malinga. There will be good carry which means the wicketkeepers will have to be on alert at all time.
Just few more minutes to go for the Toss.
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New Zealand is happy to go under the radar as it prepares to launch its campaign for World Cup glory against Sri Lanka in Cardiff.
Here's today's Match Preview:
The Black Caps reached the final four years ago for the first time after six semi-final defeats, only to be soundly beaten by Australia in Melbourne.
Kane Williamson has replaced the swashbuckling Brendon McCullum as captain but the core of the team that came so close in 2015 remains.
Since the last World Cup, New Zealand has risen as high as second in the world rankings but has also been beaten at home by South Africa, England and India.
New Zealand beat fancied India in its opening World Cup warm-up game before going down to the West Indies.
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Former Kiwi paceman James Franklin is confident Williamson’s side can claim their first World Cup trophy.
“New Zealand are in a sweet spot. No one’s talking about us too much,” he said at the opening party of the 12th edition of the 50-over tournament.
“We’re forever the underdogs and that suits us quite well.... If we can get some form going over the next few weeks, there’s no reason why New Zealand couldn’t go on and win the World Cup.”
Taylor has been in breathtaking form in recent years in the one-day game, averaging over 60 in ODIs in 2017 and more than 90 last year.
Williamson, ranked 12th, and Martin Guptill, ranked 10th, are the other main dangermen in the New Zealand batting line-up Trent Boult leads an impressive bowling attack, with Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee for company. Spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner offer useful variety.
Clear favourite
“The way T20 cricket goes, it can come down to six or 12 runs at the end of it, and ODI cricket is becoming an extended version of T20 cricket in my opinion,” Boult said.
“If you can make those big 17 or 18-run overs into 12-run overs, that can make a big difference in the end. If we’re clear on that, we can go a fair way in this tournament.”
The Kiwis start clear favourites in their opener against 1996 winners Sri Lanka, a side that has slumped to ninth in the ODI rankings.
Newly appointed captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who has returned to the ODI fold after four years away, has been handed the responsibility of lifting a team that have lost eight of their past nine ODIs.
But Sri Lanka has an impressive World Cup record, with one title, two runners-up finishes and one semi-final appearance. “Sri Lanka always find a way to do well in World Cups,” said former captain Mahela Jayawardene.
“Yes, there have been some different changes to the set-up. The captain himself hasn’t played one-day cricket for a while but he’s a wonderful player.”
“They are trying to bring a bit more stability into the group. You still have some exciting talent -- Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis. There are match-winners in that unit.
“Four/five wins can get you a semi-final berth and Sri Lanka would be looking at that option and try and execute each game at a time. I still feel they have got a very good chance.”
Teams:
New Zealand (From): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell
Sri Lanka (From): Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera(w), Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, Nuwan Pradeep, Angelo Perera, Avishka Fernando
The match will be streamed live on Hotstar
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