Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Angled into the batter, Kusal Mendis goes deep inside the crease and tucks this towards leg for a single.
Time for the first hydration break of the match. Sri Lanka bossed the powerplay, in all fairness with Pathum Nissanka going all guns blazing. But, his injury has certainly slowed down the scoring rate after that. Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith have effectively managed to stem the flow of runs to an extent and would like to further press on their opposition with a couple of quick wickets. The Mendis duo meanwhile, will be aiming to spend more time on the crease to settle and construct a solid stand from here and cruise through the mid-overs. An important phase coming up. Santner to continue after the break. He is 3-0-15-0 so far.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, Short and wide around off, Kamindu Mendis cuts this toward point for a dot to end the over.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, SIX! He catches plenty of it this time around. Good length around the pads, all Kamindu Mendis needed was to get some bat at it. He goes through for the shot with no intention to keep it down and flicks this way beyond that tiny pocket towards deep square and adds six to the tally.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, A tight line from Smith teases Kamindu Mendis to go for the drives. Kamindu Mendis goes for it but gets beaten on the outside.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, On a length around middle and leg, Kamindu Mendis defends this back to the bowler.
Nathan Smith to Kusal Mendis, Good length on the pads, Kusal Mendis moves in and flicks this through square leg for one.
Nathan Smith to Kusal Mendis, Short-pitched, into the body. Kusal Mendis goes for the pull but doesn't get the timing right. The ball lands in-between short mid-wicket and mid on.
Mitchell Santner to Kamindu Mendis, Fuller on leg, Kamindu Mendis tucks this straight at mid-wicket for no run.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Quicker and flatter on off, Kusal Mendis punches this through cover for one.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, SIX! A drag down from Mitchell Santner and Kusal Mendis makes him pay. Rocks back and pulls this into the stands and away for a huge six.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Low full toss on middle and off, and with mid on inside the circle, Kusal Mendis was happy to slog this over the infield and get two.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Drifts one in on off, Kusal Mendis defends it.
Mitchell Santner to Kamindu Mendis, Floated on off, Kamindu Mendis walks down the track and rolls this to long on for one.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, On a length around off, Kamindu Mendis pushes this towards the left of Mitchell Santner at mid off for one.
Nathan Smith to Kusal Mendis, Gives it a whack out of nowhere. On a length around middle and off, Kusal Mendis slogs this and doesn't get the timing right. Luckily for Mendis, the ball lands in front of Mark Chapman at deep square.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, Good length on middle and leg, Kamindu Mendis nudges this just wide of short mid-wicket for one.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, Some spice from Nathan Smith as he lands one short around leg, Kamindu Mendis ducks down.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, On a length around middle and leg, Kamindu Mendis punches this to mid on for no run.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, Good length around off, Kamindu Mendis blocks this toward point.
Mitchell Santner to Kamindu Mendis, Fuller around middle and off, tuning into the left-hander. Kamindu Mendis nudges this through square leg for a single.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Tossed up on off, Kusal Mendis drives this to sweeper cover for one.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Gives it a lot more air, gets some grip and bounce, around off. Kusal Mendis blocks it out.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Pushed through on off, Kusal Mendis hops back and guides this to short third.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Touch fuller, on off, turning away from the batter. Kusal Mendis dabs this towards point for no run.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Short of a length on off, Kusal Mendis blocks this towards off.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, Another one defended solidly off his front foot from Kamindu Mendis.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, Good length on off, Kamindu Mendis gets right behind the line of it and blocks it out.
Nathan Smith to Kusal Mendis, On a length around middle and leg, Kusal Mendis plays the on-drive towards mid on and takes one. Kamindu Mendis could have been in some trouble with Mitchell Santner throwing it toward the keeper's end.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, Kamindu Mendis is up and away with a single towards the fine leg region.
Nathan Smith to Kamindu Mendis, Too good a delivery first up. Back of a length, angling away from the left-hander. Kamindu Mendis looks to block this one but it keeps shaping away. Beats the outside edge.
Kamindu Mendis is the batter in for Sri Lanka.
Nathan Smith to Avishka Fernando, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Natham Smith strikes for New Zealand and provides that crucial breakthrough. He hurls it on a good length, and angles it on the pads, Avishka Fernando moves inside the line of the ball, and goes for the pull shot looking to take on Mark Chapman at the deep square leg fence. However, the ball isn't that short to execute that shot, hence, he doesn't time it well and the ball gets more elevation than distance and Mark Chapman does the rest by taking a regulation catch. Avishka Fernando's struggling innings comes to an end as he departs for 17 off 33 balls. Sri Lanka are 69/1.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Quicker and flatter on off, Kusal Mendis punches this at extra cover for a dot to end the over.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Darted on middle and leg, Kusal Mendis blocks it out.
Mitchell Santner to Avishka Fernando, Tossed up around middle and off, Avishka Fernando moves away and lofts this inside out over cover for one.
Mitchell Santner to Avishka Fernando, Tossed up around off, Avishka Fernando drives but straight at extra cover.
Mitchell Santner to Kusal Mendis, Too full on off, Kusal Mendis drives this to wide long off for another single.
Mitchell Santner to Avishka Fernando, Floated on off, Avishka Fernando moves away and drives this through mid off for one.
Oh dear! Not a pleasing sign for Sri Lanka. Pathum Nissanka has struggled to complete the single here and just doesn't look fit enough to continue. He is on his haunches. Meanwhile, Sanath Jayasuriya is seen ordering him to come back and Pathum Nissanka walks out and is retired hurt. He will get a chance to bat again if he is fit later on. Kusal Mendis walks out to bat now. Also, a change in bowling as Mitchell Santner comes into the attack, replacing Matt Henry.
Ouch! Pathum Nissanka is looking in some discomfort and is unable to continue. A blow to the batting team as Pathum Nissanka is retired hurt.
Powerplay 2 is now in effect, allowing the fielding team to position 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle until the 40th over.
Nathan Smith to Avishka Fernando, Not quite timed well! Length, outside off, Avishka Fernando mistimes it over cover and it is chased by Mitchell Santner to the deep. Pathum Nissanka is in clear discomfort and just gives up running to the other end. Somehow he completes the run as he limps and struggles.
Nathan Smith to Avishka Fernando, Just wide of mid-wicket! Touch full and on middle and leg, angling further in, Avishka Fernando chips it uppishly and wide of mid-wicket.
Worrying signs for Pathum Nissanka and Sri Lanka as he is down and undergoing some treatment. In the last few strides of this quick one to bring up his fifty, Pathum Nissanka had a grimace on his face and it appeared to do something with his groin. Nissanka after some treatment is fit to continue.