SL vs NZ: After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bat first and faced a major blow when Sri Lankan skipper L Malinga sent Colin Munro back to pavilion at just 23 runs on board in the fifth over. However, Martin Guptill (138 of 139 deliveries) and skipper Kane Williamson (76 of 74) resurrected the innings and accumulated 163 runs for the second wicket which was carried forward by Ross Taylor (54 of 37) who laid a perfect platform to Jimmy Neesham (47* of 17) for the late assault. The all-rounder smashed five sixes in an over off Thisara Perera to help his side post a gigantic total of 371-7.
Coming to chase, Niroshan Dickwella (76 of 50) and Dhanushka Gunathilaka (43 of 62) gave the kind of start Sri Lanka was looking for. Both the openers collected 119 runs for the first wicket which was carried off well by Kusal Mendis (102 off 86) at the third position but no support from the other end resulted in 45 runs loss for the side.
Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Playing 11:
SL-
Wicketkeeper: Niroshan Dickwella
Batsmen: Danushka Gunathilaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera,
All-rounder: Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne
Bowlers: Lasith Malinga (c), Nuwan Pradeep, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lakshan Sandakan
NZ-
Wicketkeeper: Tim Seifert
Batsmen: Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls
All-rounder: James Neesham, Colin Munro
Bowlers: Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry/Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson
Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Squads:
Sri Lanka- Asela Gunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushmantha Chameera, Niroshan Dickwella, Seekkuge Prasanna, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Lakshan Sandakan, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep, Lasith Malinga (c), Kusal Perera, Lahiru Kumara
New Zealand- Tim Seifert, Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Doug Bracewell, Ross Taylor, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, Colin Munro, Tim Southee
