World Cup 2019, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: Guptill, Munro help NZ canter to a 10-wicket win

Williamson, NZ skipper: A great start. Winning the toss and taking early wickets was crucial on that wicket. It was a terrific effort from the bowlers to keep that pressure for 30 overs. I don’t think there is a problem with these pitches. With the new ball in both innings, you can expect some movement. When you bowl a side out for a lowish total, it’s going to be quite a tough thing to defend, and the full ball won’t be as threatening against unconventional cricket. In England we can expect different kinds of wickets. In the warm-up games we saw all kinds of attacks and wickets, so it is important to have a balanced attacks for these wickets.

Karunaratne, SL skipper: Of course, I think 136 is not enough in these conditions. Me and Kusal batted well, but we lost wickets regularly after that. We need to build partnerships. In the morning it was seaming and swinging a little bit, and they had that advantage. They also had good bowlers to do that. Everyone is coming to watch some good entertaining cricket, so I’m looking forward to some good batting wickets.

Player of the match, Matt Henry on the green track: “You don’t get too many ODI wickets like that.”

NZ 137/0 (16.1)

Sri Lanka showed why they are among the world’s worst ODI sides and NZ – in trouncing SL by 10 wickets – showed why they will be contenders this time round too. NZ did not put a foot wrong today. They couldn’t have started the tournament in a better way.

NZ 120/0 (15)

This is a yawn. It really is. Sri Lanka have simply failed to make any impact and Guptill has taken them to the cleaners at every opportunity. He slammed Mendis out of the stadium in the last over and a new ball was needed.

NZ 105/0 (13)

51 off 41 for Munro. Both the NZ openers have been superb. This is as comprehensive as it gets.

NZ 101/0 (13)

50 off 39 for Guptill. A wonderful knock and NZ are finishing this off in a hurry. Sri Lanka have no answers and they probably might already be thinking about the next match.

NZ 77/0 (10)

Guptill (36) and Munro (39) are making this look easy. And perhaps it is. A reflection of how low Sri Lanka have dropped in recent times.

NZ 59/0 (8)

Lakmal would have been one of Sri Lanka’s hopes coming into the match on a green wicket but he has been carted for 28 off his 4 overs. SL bowlers haven’t managed to find the right length today. NZ putting on a show.

NZ 40/0 (6)

Huge 14-run over for NZ as Munro got stuck into Lakmal. A four and a six to show for his efforts. The NZ openers highlighting just how poorly SL batted.

NZ 19/0 (4)

Steady cricket for New Zealand. They aren’t trying to do anything silly for the moment and that is just what the doctor ordered.

NZ 13/0 (2)

NZ will look to play out the initial few overs before turning their attention towards the NRR. A big win will be a big help in the latter stages of the tournament.

NZ 10/0 (1)

And edge that fell short of the slips and two fours by Guptill. This might be the way the initial few overs go. Malinga did get some movement and Sri Lanka will want him to bowl a pretty decisive spell first up.

NZ 0/0 (0)

NZ are all set to start their chase. They are used to such conditions and *should* have a better strategy in place. Lakmal and Malinga can be a handful too.

Sri Lanka 136 all out (29.2)

Classy knock by SL skipper Karunaratne who carried his bat through the innings. The Kiwi batsmen may look to do the same initially. If they get off to a good start, the match could end quite quickly.

Sri Lanka 136 all out (29.2)

And that is that. In Sangakkara’s words: “It has just been a clinical performance. Well planned, well executed.” Straight, full and fast from Ferguson and Malinga just tried to swat it away. Didn’t connect and was out bowled.

Malinga b Ferguson 1 (2)

Sri Lanka 135/9 (29)

Fifty! Wonderful knock by Karunaratne, off 81 balls. He had led from the front but the others just weren’t interested in following him.

Sri Lanka 130/9 (28.1)

WICKET! This is coming to an end quickly now. Short ball from Boult does the trick. Can’t blame the tailender here.

Lakmal c Santner b Boult 7 (13, 4x1)

Sri Lanka 122/8 (27)

A four for Lakmal helps but this frankly seems like too deep a hole at the moment. NZ are trying to finish the innings and are on the attack.

Sri Lanka 114/8 (24.4)

WICKET! Ah well. This must be terribly disappointing for Karunaratne. He has held up one end but the other batsmen have not shown enough guts on this wicket. Udana throws it away. Fielding practice and a wicket for Neesham.

Udana c Matt Henry b Neesham 0 (3)

Sri Lanka 112/7 (23.4)

WICKET! Perera throws it away. He had such a nice partnership going but decided to go after Santner, got no timing and just hit it to the fielder in the deep. This is poor cricket by an experienced cricketer.

Perera c Boult b Santner 27(23, 6x2)

Sri Lanka 110/6 (23)

Neesham got his length wrong and Perera helped himself to his second six. This has been a superb partnership for SL – 51 off 47 balls. It is giving SL a sliver of a chance.

Sri Lanka 100/6 (22)

It has taken Sri Lanka a while but they have finally reached 100. This partnership between Karunaratne and Perera is already worth 40 off 40 balls. Perera was dropped by Santner, off his own bowling, but the ball was really smashed back at the bowler.

Sri Lanka 92/6 (20)

It might not just be a bad idea to play time like Karunaratne. But SL have lost too many wicket. If they were, however, to take a leaf out of Dhoni’s book, bat deep, we might get a very interesting match indeed. For now, their first target must be making more than Pakistan did against West Indies. Little steps.

Sri Lanka 82/6 (18)

What kind of total should Sri Lanka have in their sights now? That is something Karunaratne will be giving a very hard think about in the middle.

Sri Lanka 80/6 (17)

Sri Lanka’s bowlers will also be able to exploit the conditions but their batsmen need to put enough on board. Perera can bat and he might want to – as the six in the last over showed – decide to go on the counterattack. With Karunaratne holding one end up, it just might be worth a go.

Sri Lanka 60/6 (15.2)

WICKET! Another wicket for Ferguson and Sri Lanka have no answer. That was angled across by the bowler, it took a leading edge straight to the fielder at gully. Yesterday, Pakistan showed why they have struggled so badly in ODIs and today, Sri Lanka are doing the same. Not a great advertisement for the game.

J Mendis c Neesham b Ferguson 1(4)

Sri Lanka 59/5 (14.4)

WICKET! Sri Lanka’s most experienced batsman is gone without scoring. de Grandhomme bowled the perfect delivery and the edge went through to Latham. Sri Lanka are reeling and ICC are making plans of having just four teams in the next World Cup *kidding*.

Mathews c Latham b de Grandhomme 0 (9)

Sri Lanka 57/4 (13)

Sri Lanka need to consolidate and re-evaluate their target now. Another wicket could see them crumble. Karunaratne has a huge responsibility from this point on, he has been there from ball one and SL would love him to stay till the end.

Sri Lanka 53/4 (11.5)

WICKET! Pace does the trick! Lockie Ferguson strikes in his first over – the ball was clocked at 147 km/h and it came back in sharply to de Silva. Mathews is in next.

Dhananjaya de Silva lbw b Ferguson 4 (13, 4x1)

Sri Lanka 52/3 (11)

The field will spread out a bit now but Kane Williamson will keep attacking. About time for a change in bowling.

Sri Lanka 51/3 (10)

Perera’s innings was vital for SL – he was doing all the attacking.

Sri Lanka 50/3 (9)

The match has changed in an instant. Sri Lanka need to continue to remain positive though because this exactly the kind of wicket this is, the bowlers will always be in with a chance.

Sri Lanka 46/3 (8.2)

WICKET! Two in two for Henry. Great length, great line and Kusal Mendis edged it to the slip where Martin Guptill took a great catch. Here comes the collapse. Great delivery.

Kusal Mendis c Guptill b Matt Henry 0 (1)

Sri Lanka 46/2 (8.1)

WICKET! You live by the sword, you die by it. Perera (29 off 24) skies it and Colin de Grandhomme takes a good catch. The ball just seemed to hold a little in the wicket and that was enough to throw the left-hander off. Good bowling by Henry – he stuck to the task at hand.

Kusal Perera c de Grandhomme b Matt Henry 29 (24, 4x4)

Sri Lanka 46/1 (8)

Kane Williamson will be thinking about a bowling change. Henry and Boult just haven’t managed to tighten the screws here. Sri Lanka have attacked intelligently.

Sri Lanka 41/1 (7)

This has been smart cricket by Sri Lanka, they have counter-attacked very well and pushed New Zealand to come up with something different.

Sri Lanka 35/1 (6)

Intent from Sri Lanka and their No 3 Perera. Back-to-back fours to start the over put the pressure right back on Boult. Then, on the 4th ball, Karunaratne almost chopped it back on. Replays showed that the ball even glanced the stumps but failed to dislodge the bails. This is happening way too many times – it happened in the IPL, it happened in the Eng vs SA game too. ICC needs to look into this.

Sri Lanka 25/1 (5)

Much better start than most expected Sri Lanka to have given the green tinge on the wicket. Both batsmen have looked in control and played some wonderful shots too.

Sri Lanka 20/1 (4)

In between some brilliant deliveries, Boult is bowling some pretty poor ones. One gets the feeling that he just hasn’t hit his stride yet.

Sri Lanka 12/1 (3)

One loose delivery and Kusal Perera lofts it over the infield for four. He didn’t hit it too well but it is important to stay positive here. They need to take advantage of the poor balls.

Sri Lanka 7/1 (2)

Boult into the attack and he is getting some good shape. But still early days. Sri Lanka need to make sure they don’t lose too many early wickets.

Sri Lanka 4/1 (0.2)

WICKET! And it didn’t take long for Henry to strike. The first ball was down the leg-side, the second was bang on target. The umpire gave it not out initially but the review showed otherwise.

Thirimanne lbw b Matt Henry 4 (2)

National anthems done

Time for the match to begin. Sri Lanka will have their work cut out on a green wicket.

Tough start

Sri Lanka have the lowest win percentage (28.24) since the last World Cup among the 10 participating teams in this edition. Pakistan were second last on the list.

The Islanders are also 0-4 in games at Cardiff and they will be batting first on a green track. Dangerous signs and there will be some nerves in the dressing room.

Squads:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera(w), 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(w), Ross Taylor, James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Trent Boult

Here’s what the captains said at the toss:

Williamson: We are gonna have a bowl... obviously. It’s a fresh wicket with a green tinge. Blundell is out. Just a one spinner and two all-rounders. That helps with the balance. For us it’s about adapting.

Karunaratne: I would have bowled as well. We wanted to take advantage. Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, Nuwan Pradeep, Avishka Fernando are not playing. We don’t have much pressure. We want to do well. We want to show what we can do.

Toss

New Zealand win the toss and they are going to have a bowl.

Williamson: “Obviously, looking at the green surface.”

Pitch

Nice, healthy covering of grass on the pitch. But it isn’t going to be a quick pitch. Still one that pacers will look forward to bowling on.

Scrappy cricket

Kane Williamson has warned New Zealand to be ready for difficult World Cup pitches where “scrappy” cricket is essential as they begin their campaign against Sri Lanka.

The tournament has already witnessed two contrasting games as England scored 311-8 despite a tricky surface in their tournament opening win against South Africa at the Oval.

But on Friday, the West Indies bowled out Pakistan for just 105 in their one-sided win at Trent Bridge.

Despite big scores predicted in the English summer, New Zealand captain Williamson cautioned his players not to get stuck to a plan and adjust according to the situation as they prepare for their opener in Cardiff on Saturday.

“There has been a lot of talk about really high scores but I think there will be a number of games where that isn’t the case and it will require adjustment,” Williamson told reporters on Friday.

“Guys maybe will have to push harder on a particular surface on a given day, but equally it might be about adjusting to what one-day cricket used to look a little bit like. Scores that are a bit lower and much more of that scrappy type.

“There will not be one way to play. We know that not every game will be a 350 score, and it’s important to be made aware of that as we go throughout this tournament.”

The Black Caps start as overwhelming favourites against 1996 winners Sri Lanka, a side that has slumped to ninth in the ODI rankings.

But despite a 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka on home soil at the start of the year, Williamson won’t be underestimating their struggling opponents.

“I don’t know how much the past really counts for as we come into a tournament. It is on the day and we know in this competition that every team can beat any of the other teams,” Williamson said.

“We are certainly treating all of our matches like that and want to bring the focus back onto the cricket we want to play.

“We know the Sri Lanka side is a bit different to the one we played at home, but we have no doubt that they are a tough side.”

New Zealand reached the World Cup final for the first time four years ago, but had to settle for a runners-up finish against Australia.

Their bid to make amends for that painful near-miss suffered a scare when wicketkeeper Tom Latham broke his finger during a warm-up game in Australia earlier this month.

But Latham has recovered in time to be available for his team’s opening game.

“Yeah, so fairly exciting for Tom. He’s progressed nicely and will be available tomorrow, which is great news. He’s very much looking forward to that,” Williamson said.