NZ VS SL - Match 3, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

On that note, after an avalanche of one-sided encounters coming our way, in addition to some spoilt-rich-brat batting performances, this is Rishi Roy, bidding you an early goodbye, on behalf of Vineet Anantharaman, Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Sagar Chawla, Akshay Maanay, Abhinand Raghavendran, and Naga, ready to gamble these drab affairs for some batting belters. Switch tabs and check out the Australia vs. Afghanistan encounter in Bristol, then. Ciao!

Oh so clinical. Is this the same nation that made the final in 2007 and 2011? Sri Lanka, well, they look unrecognizable - like a pale reflection of their former selves. As if they've been turned into mincemeat and overcooked to the point of soot. New Zealand did win the toss. They did take advantage of the new ball. And they also took absolutely every chance that came their way. Heck, they even grabbed a few that didn't. The difference? The Sri Lankans didn't - not even the precious few that came their way after a dismal batting show.

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. It was slowish movement, so it was a surface where, if you can see off the movement, it's easier to bat, but we were fortunate to get early wickets because it stopped doing a lot at the back-end. 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 attack for these wickets. We didn't have too many conversations with the bowlers. But with the green tinge, you could expect the bowlers to be aggressive and they really were good up top. Munro played with freedom, and played a lot of shots, and that's going to infuse a lot of confidence, so we are hoping to carry this forward, on a different surface against a different opposition.

Karunaratne, SL skipper: Of course, I think 136 was not enough in these conditions. Me and Kusal (Perera) 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. We batted well in practice games and practised hard, but we need to understand when to accelerate and stay patient before we go for our shots. It's tough to bat in these conditions, but we need to give ourselves a chance - after you get set, it's much easier to bat, and the part-timers come on so it's much easier to get runs against them.

Matt Henry, Man of the Match: It was good to get a green surface and we tried to make the most of it. We don't get many one day wickets like that, but it's nice when you get one. It is just important you go through your processes and try a few things, not try and worry too much as it is a long tournament. On a surface like that we were trying the full length and get them forward, with them trying to hit us off our length. You make sure you keep coming in with your plans and hope that the plans would work. Makes a massive difference when the fielders do their job; they were brilliant today and it means a lot for our bowling attack. I really enjoyed my time at Kent last year, we had a lot of success with the white and the red ball. Always nice to come back here.

Harsha Bhogle: Sri Lanka will be, should be, very disappointed with this display. So who is going to lift them from here?

14:50 Local Time, 13:50 GMT, 19:20 IST: Could a win be any more convincing? The Kiwis' neighbours are better known for inflicting such one-sided thrashings, particularly in World Cups, and perhaps they've taken a leaf out of their book. An absolute pounding for Sri Lanka, absolutely nailing the decision to bowl first. The bowlers did make sure that Williamson wasn't embarrassed by utilising the green deck on offer to skittle the spineless batting line-up for a paltry 136. The Kiwi openers started off in a stable manner, and were a little iffy too, offering some early chances. However, once they found their feet, they absolutely thumped the hapless Sri Lankan bowlers, and almost bullied the fielders into submission. A glorious start to the tournament for the - oh no, they're no pushovers. They aren't punching above their weight any more. They're here to win.

Ten wicket wins with most balls to spare in WCs:
252 NZ vs Ken Chennai 2011
228 SA vs Ban Bloemfontein 2003
203 NZ vs SL Cardiff 2019
181 Ind vs E Africa Headingley 1975

Fifth loss in as many ODIs for SL in Cardiff

Ten wicket wins for NZ in World Cups:
72/0 vs Ken Chennai 2011
166/0 vs Zim Ahmedabad 2011
137/0 vs SL Cardiff 2019
- 12th instance overall in World Cups

J Mendis to Munro, 1 run, there it is! The very definition of a clinical win! New Zealand win by ten wickets, and Sri Lanka's doom arrives, fittingly, in the form of mediocrity - a terrible loopy delivery on the pads, and that's just nudged away into the on-side for a single to seal the deal for the Kiwis

Malinga to Guptill, 2 runs, low dipping full-toss on the pads, clipped away towards deep square leg for a couple and the scores are level

Malinga to Guptill, no run, Free-hit, fires in an inch-perfect yorker, Guptill can do nothing but dig it back out to him

Malinga to Guptill, no ball, FOUR, oversteps, and bowls it short without any venom, pulled away with a bit of a hop towards the fine leg fence for four

Malinga to Guptill, FOUR, short and into the body, Guptill swivels on his heel and pulls it away to the fine leg fence for four

Malinga to Guptill, wide, a short one, but down leg this time, Guptill ducks partially, but doesn't really need to. Flies over his head.

Malinga to Guptill, 2 runs, back of a length slower one from round the wicket, tucked off the hips towards backward square leg for a couple

Malinga to Munro, 1 run, short one into the arm-pit, Munro hops and gets the bat down just in time to jab at a pull towards backward square leg for a single. Not a commanding pull - a rather apprehensive one

Malinga to Guptill, 1 run, a slower one, dipping on the batsman but gets the line wrong - angling into the leg-side - and that's clipped away late towards deep square leg for a single

Malinga is back for some slingers. Some redemption. Partial redemption.

Drinks are on the field now. Only the last rites remain in yet another one-sided affair.