William O'Rourke to Avishka Fernando, Shapes in a touch, around off on a fullish length, Avishka Fernando gets forward and drive it off the inside half of the bat to mid on.
William O'Rourke to Avishka Fernando, Fuller and outside off, Avishka Fernando leaves this harmless delivery.
William O'Rourke to Avishka Fernando, Straighter around off, on a good length, Avishka Fernando strides across and blocks it right under his bat.
William O'Rourke to Avishka Fernando, WIDE! Starts off with a false delivery! Sprays it down leg, it further keeps nipping away down leg and the keeper collects it to his left.
William O'Rourke will bowl from the other end.
Matt Henry to Pathum Nissanka, BEATEN! A snorter of a delivery to end the first over! A decent one for both sides. Touch fuller and outside off, nipping away, Pathum Nissanka gets ahead on the front foot to defend, but the ball lands and nips away, and zips past the outside edge. 6 from the opening over then.
Matt Henry to Avishka Fernando, Back of a length, just outside off, Avishka Fernando plays it late and opens the bat face to guide it behind backward point for a single. Gets off the mark!
Matt Henry to Pathum Nissanka, Outside off, on a hard length, Pathum Nissanka waits for it and guides it away to deep third for a single.
Matt Henry to Pathum Nissanka, BEATEN! Shapes away from the right-hander, on a fullish length, outside off, Pathum Nissanka goes for a front foot defence and gets beaten on the outside edge as he plays inside the line.
Matt Henry to Pathum Nissanka, Nice and full, straighter and on off, Pathum Nissanka leans on the ball and blocks it forward.
Matt Henry to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! Sri Lanka are up and running! A little bit of width, just outside off, on a fuller length, nipping away a shy bit as well. Pathum Nissanka prods forward, throws his hands at it and the ball flies over the gully region for a boundary.
All in readiness for the action to commence at Eden Park, Auckland. Bright and sunny conditions, perfectly suited for the cricket to progress greet the two umpires and the players. It is also quite breezy out there, which might help the seamers to move the ball. Sri Lanka players take their fielding positions. Avishka Fernando and Pathum Nissanka are the two openers for Sri Lanka. Matt Henry has the new ball for New Zealand to kick off the proceedings. Off we go...
The captain of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner says it looks like a pretty good wicket. Also adds that the shape of this venue is a bit different and the straight boundaries are a bit short and that the teams coming here always look to exploit that. Says there should be good bounce and they would like to utilize the conditions. Informs Jacob Duffy misses out and Michael Bracewell comes in for him.
The captain of Sri Lanka, Charith Asalanka says the surface looks good and they are hoping to get runs on the board. Mentions that the drop-in pitches can be a bit more bouncier as compared to the other tracks. Adds they want to deliver in this game and they also had a detailed discussion regarding the strategies for this game. Informs they are going unchanged.
New Zealand (Playing XI) - Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (WK), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (In for Jacob Duffy), Mitchell Santner (C), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, William O'Rourke.
Sri Lanka (Unchanged Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando.
TOSS UPDATE - The flip of the coin lands in the favor of Sri Lanka and Charith Asalanka elects to BAT first.