New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Match 3 Match Summary

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.

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.

On the pads, Guptill flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Scores are levelled!

Dot ball. Malinga delivers a yorker on middle, Guptill gets behind the line and pushes it back to the bowler.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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!

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.

On the pads again, this is worked through mid-wicket for a single.

The ball strikes the batsman very low on the pads One run added to the total. Leg bye signalled by the umpire

On the pads again, Guptill works it mid-wicket.

Flatter and on leg, Guptill pushes it wide of long on and runs two.

Jeevan Mendis is introduced into the attack.

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.

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.

Swing and a miss! Good length ball angling across the batsman, Munro tries to heave it across the line but fails to connect.

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.

Stands back and punches a length ball to deep cover for a run.