(Will New Zealand cause more upset and continue their home domination or will Sri Lanka able to turn the tables and give the Kiwis a taste of the mighty Lankans in the limited over format? Catch all the action here.)
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s coverage of the first ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday. I am Ayush Gupta, and I will be bringing you the live updates from the what is expected to be a thrilling contest.
New Zealand are running high on confidence after thrashing the touring Sri Lankans 2-0 for a clean sweep in the recently concluded Test series. Having won both the Test in a convincing fashion, New Zealand would now look to extend their winning streak and home domination in the limited over format of the game as undoubtedly, it is the most important format at present with over a month to got for the ICC World Cup scheduled to get underway at their own backyard and Australia as well. The ODI series would be an important platform for the Kiwis to check how good are they and what are their prospects in the mega event as they take on the runners-up of the 2011 edition.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand would look to turn the table and get things in their favour as they look to move on from the miserable Test series whitewash defeat at the hands of the Kiwis and concentrate on the limited over format as they face off in the first ODI at Christchurch. Having lost the finals of the 2011 ICC World Cup at the hands of India in Mumbai; Sri Lanka, being finalists of the last two editions of the mega event would surely want to get their hands on the Cup this time and this ODI series against New Zealand is the perfect platform to the build-up to the mega event as it would help them judge as of where they stand at present in the format and what changes or strategies they need to make.
Corey Anderson is out for 81 as New Zealand are ten runs away from victory
Corey Anderson 81 (96) LBW Dilshan
New Zealand needs 10 runs to win the match and go 1-0 up in the series
New Zealand inching inching closer to their target as Anderson goes into his eighties.
New Zealand inching closer to their target courtesy of a steady innings by Corey Anderson and Nathan McCullum
New Zealand need 45 runs to win and take a 1-0 lead in the series
OUT!!!! Luke Ronchi has to depart for 17 as he is caught by Mathews off Shaminda Eranga. Nathan McCullum comes in while Corey Anderson approaches his half-century.
OUT! Luke Ronchi c Mathews b Eranga 17 (21)
Soppy innings begins for New Zealand after a quick-fire half-century by Brendon McCullum as McCullum, Grant Elliott and Tom Latham have departed and New Zealand are four down requiring another 116 to win.
OUT! Kane Williamson c Jayawardene b Senanayake 15 (22), Grant Elliot b Kulsekara 15 (30), Tom Latham st Sangakkara b Dilshan 15 (30)
What a start to the New Zealand chase. Although an initial breakthrough, but McCullum and Williamson have blasted it out all over the park and it’s McCullum who’s in superb touch, scoring his half-century in just 19 deliveries.
OUT! Martin Guptill c Dilshan b Kulasekara 0 (2), Brendon McCullum st Sangakkara b Senanayake 51 (22)
THAT’S IT!!!! New Zealand need 219 from 50 overs to win the match. Jaywardene was the lone star of the match as none of the other players contributed much and the score seems to be a below par one. Would be interesting to see if Sri Lanka’s bowling attack can see the Kiwis off or can they chase it down comfortably and draw first blood.
OUT! Finally the break through and it’s Thirimane who departs for 23 after facing 50 deliveries as he is caught at point by Kane Williamson and Mitchjell McClenaghan gets the all-important break thorugh.
OUT! Lahiru Thirimane c Williamson b McClenagahan 23 (50)
Another good four overs for Sri Lanka as the 50-run stand for the fifth wicket between Jayawardene and Thirimane comes up. The batting powerplay has also been taken.
NO harm done following the regular fall of four wickets as Jaywardene and Thirimane take control of the Sri Lankan innings. Jayawardene also scores his 77th ODI half-century.
GONE!!!! It’s a run out and it’s the skipper, Angelo Mathews who has to depart for just 15 off 33 balls. The last thing that Sri Lanka wanted was this run out. Lahiru Thirimane comes in.
OUT! Angelo Mathews run out 15 (33)
GONE!!!! Sri Lanka just failing to build-up good partnership as Dilshan is the latest victim to fall off Nathan McCullum and he is stumped by Luke Ronchi after m,arching down the crease for a big one but completely missing it. Skipper, Mathews comes in.
OUT! Tillakaratne Dilshan st Ronchi b N McCullum 19 (42)
GONE AGAIN!!!!| Not the start that Sri Lanka would have wanted. After Karunaratne, it’s Sangakkara who departs for cheap as well and it’s just four as he is caught brilliantly by Kane Williamson in the mid-off region off Adam Milne.
OUT! Kumar Sangakkara c Williamson b Mine 4 (15)
OUT!!!! New Zealand have gone the first break-thorugh and it’s Karunaratne who has to depart for just mere five after facing eight deliveries as Milne traps him leg-before. He goes for the review, but it’s the umpire’s call that stays. Sangakkara comes in.
OUT! Dimuth Karunaratne lbw Milne 5 (8)
Good start to the first over as Trent Boult gets to open the bowling attack for New Zealand and a reserved start from both the batsmen as Sri Lanka get just three from the opening over.
Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat first.
Teams:
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Brendon McCullum (c), Luke Ronchi (wk), Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Trent Boult.
In the team composition; skipper, Brendon McCullum would look to go in with two pacers and two spinners considering the conditions at Christchurch while Sri Lanka too would look for the same combination with spin being their greatest option. However, considering the pitch, it is surely to assist advantage to both bowlers and batsmen and the teams going with whatever combination could help them in any basis.
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