Tri-series: SL v NZ commentary

Sri Lanka win by three wickets. The hosts have announced themselves at the tri-series in Dambulla and they will be extremely tough to beat on their home turf. The bowlers did the job earlier in the day and a solid batting effort knocked of the runs comfortably enough despite the mad scramble at the end. Upul Tharanga (70) laid the platform for Sri Lanka and he was partnered up front by Kumar Sangakkara (48) before Thilan Samaraweera finished the job, again confirming his potential with an array of strokes in 36 unbeaten runs. Sri Lanka deserve credit for having a full go for the bonus point and they kept trying even as wickets began to fall. The brave move made the game far more entertaining and the home side were unfortunate to only take four points home. New Zealand to their credit kept fighting to the end and Kyle Mills deservedly took four wickets. Thanks for joining us today and we look forward to having you with us again when Sri Lanka take on India on Monday. Cheers for now.

Over 41 Mills 1-1-1-0-4 195-7 - The Sri Lankan pair will just canter to victory now. Three singles set it up before Samaraweera fitingly ends the game in style with a clean strike on the up with races passed the in-field to the cover fence. Sri Lanka win by three wickets with 9.1 overs remaining.

Over 40 Southee 0-0-1-1-1-0 188-7 - Hopkins has come up to the stumps to prevent any over enthusiastic footwork and it's put the pressure on Kapugedera who is tied down by the first two deliveries of the over. Samaraweera comes down the pitch for a chat between balls and it would appear the home side have conceded that the bonus point is out of range. Kapugedera has a whack at a short ball but it's just one to the leg-side fence and a couple more singles leave Samaraweera on strike with five needed from the the last ball of the over for the bonus point. The batsman is clearly not looking for the six and misses with a late cut anyway. Five runs needed to win.

Over 39 Mills 1-1-W-0-4-1 185-7 - It's pandemonium out in the middle, Herath chips the ball up just over the head of cover and scampers through for the single, getting out the big dive to fetch a single. Given the strike back Herath then does find the fielder with another chip which flies safely to Ross Taylor at short cover. Wicket! That's a well executed slower ball from Mills who picks up his fourth. The stickiness off the wicket has done for a number of Sri Lankan batsmen today. Kapugedera now gets his chance and starts well by cutting through the inner ring four four before turning to the leg-side for a one. Full on entertainment here and with an six balls left until the bonus point expires Sri Lanka need 8 runs.

Over 38 Southee 2-2-1-6-W-1 178-6 - Samaraweera is the key now and playing superbly. His placement is outstanding to pick up a couple of two from the first two Southee deliveries. A single then has Kulasekara on strike and from his second ball faced he launches into a full-blooded blow over long-on for six! Next delivery he swings hard again to a short delivery and is out! New Zealand have another wicket! The batsman swiped at a hook shot and found a fine edge through to keeper Hopkins. This pursuit of the bonus point has brought this game to life. Herath is the new batsman and he's off with a single pulled away to deep square leg. 15 runs required from 12 balls for the bonus point.

Over 37 Mills W-wd-0-1-W-1-1 166-5 - Wicket! Tharanga's well-played innings has come to an end with a lofted square drive going straight to Watling on the cover fence. It was a clean strike but not enough to clear the fence or the fielder the Sri Lankan opener is on his way for 70. Angelo Mathews has been sent in with a job to do with the bonus point very gettable. Samaraweera turns a single off his pads to give Mathews on strike and he's out! That's a first ball duck for the allrounder! He flicked tamely to the man at mid-wicket who has reached forward and taken a quality catch. Mathews stood around but after confirmation from the third umpire he has to go. Suddenly that bonus point looks unlikely and the home side may well consolidate and make certain of the win. Nuwam Kulasekara has been sent in next so Kapugedera will have to wait for his chance.

Over 36 Southee 1-1-wd-wd-1-1-0-4 162-3 - Samaraweera backs to the leg side and Southee follows him and the batsman flicks off his hips for a single. The intent from the Sri Lankans is clear, they are after the bonus point as Tharanga goes flat-batted down the ground and his heart was no doubt in his mouth for a moment but the mistimed dropped just wide of long-off. Sotuhee then goes short, but too short and wide is called. Tharanga has another go at a flat-batted shot down the ground but gets less bat on it this time and there is a quickly taken single into the on-side. Samaraweera shows his range of shots with a scoop with flies safely over the keeper for four. Ten from the over and Sri Lanka are on course for the bonus point, 31 needed from 24 for that.

Over 35 Mills 4-0-0-4-1-0 152-3 - Here we go, both sides are playing their cards simultaneously. The fresher ball has brought back the impressive Kyle Mills and Sri Lanka have called for the powerplay, potentially to have dash for the bonus point. With fielding restrictions in place the fine leg is up and Samaraweera helps himself to a flicked four over the in-field to the fine leg fence. This man is a quality batsman and he has had another pop at Mills going over the top with a cut shot to find the fence again. A single to the right hander moves him onto 16 as the over concedes nine runs. Sri Lanka need 41 runs from 30 balls for the bonus point.

Over 34 Styris 0-0-1-0-1-0 143-3 - Scotty Styris is into his eight over having conceded just 20 up until now. Tharanga is looking to stand outside of the line and work the ball into the off side and he pierces the inner ring with a cut shot but it is only one with a man sweeping the fence. Samaraweera finds that same fielder, the right-hander playing off the back foot into the leg side for one. Scotty Styris is finished, he's taking a slow stroll off the park to have a break. It's time for a ball change too.

Over 33 McKay 1-1-1-1lb-1-0-0 141-3 - The Sri Lankan batsman had a serious discussion during the drinks break and it might well have been about the bonus point; the home side need to knock off the runs inside of 40 overs for the extra log point. It's more likely that they'll settle for the four points because these are not easy conditions to bat in at this stage. Tharanga pushes away off the back foot for a single from ball one and the batting pair collect four from the over by way of singles. A quick comparison, New Zealand at this stage were 129 for seven.

Over 32 Styris 0-1- 137-3 - Samaraweera is particularly adept at moving his feet and shuffled down the track to Styris before flicking the ball through mid-wicket for a single. The ball has become unrecognisably dirty and umpire Taufel has called for a replacement meaning we have a short delay on our hands, it's drinks in fact. The umpires have made their pick and the action is back on with Tharanga hitting Styris powerfully down the ground for two. Another stroke much the same follows, but this time Tharanga has open the blade on contact and sliced the ball passed a diving point for two more as the Sri Lankan score continues to tick along merrily.

Over 31 McKay 0-1-0-2-0-0 132-3 - Andy McKay is re-introduced and one feels it's New Zealand's final little period to salvage this game as it continues to drift away from them. The left-hander is bowling around the wicket to Samaraweera who hits wide of mid on but the fielding is sharp and so it's only one. McKay switches to over the stumps to the left-handed Tharanga who cuts through the off-side for a couple.

Over 30 Styris 0-0-1-0-0-0 129-3 - Styris continues and gets the ball to stick and cut back into the right-handed Samaraweera and despite the loud appeal it's still travelling over the stumps and given not out. Samaraweera drives to long on for a single leaving Tharanga to consume the final four deliveries of the over, thwarted by some sharp fielding from Ross Taylor in the covers. Styris is proving to be particularly difficult to get away.

Over 29 McCullum 0-1-1-1-1-0 128-3 - Some needle is developing in the middle - Upul Tharanga and Nathan McCullum are enjoying their contest with Tharanga getting in a gentle shoulder on his way through for a single, competitive but all in good spirit. Samaraweera is able to get off the mark, using his feet effectively to push down the ground for a single to long off.

Over 28 Styris 4-0-0-0-1-0 124-3 - Thilan Samaraweera is the new man at the crease and he watches from the non-strikers end as Tharanga finds a touch of fortune to edge past slip and inside of point for four from the first ball. The left-hander is finding Styris a little tricky to deal with and misses on the cut before pushing for a single.

Over 27 McCullum 0-1-0-1-W-0 119-3 - It has become rather straightforward for the home side and both batsman are happily pushing the ball around for singles. Wicket! That said Jayawardene has gone and chipped one straight to Ross Taylor at short cover for the softest of dismissals and the man that has scored the most runs at this ground is out for five. Nathan McCullum has bowled well so far today and gets some reward for it. The low key Kiwi celebration at that wicket just proves how in control Sri Lanka are at this stage.

Over 26 Styris 1-1-0-0-0-1 116-2 - Upul Tharanga is soldiering on comfortably, and pushes one into the leg side. Jayawardene does the same turning to square leg for one of his own allowing Tharanga the opportunity to add one more to his total and move to fifty, the 17th time he has done so in ODI cricket.

Over 25 McCullum 0-1-1-0-1-0 113-2 - Sri Lanka work the singles off McCullum as they slowly come to terms with the offspinner. They only need three an over to win the game, but the required rate for securing a bonus point is now up to 5.3 runs per over. My colleague Doug Saxby will take you through to the close of play...

Over 24 Styris 0-0-0-1-0-0 110-2 - Styris switches to bowling round the wicket to Tharanga to change up the angle, and he continues to cause the left-hander problems. Tharanga just doesn't seem to know which way the ball is going to move off the pitch as Styris runs his fingers over the ball on release, and in the end he's content to squeeze one out to deep cover for a single.

Over 23 McCullum 0-0-0-0-1-0 109-2 - Edged! And put down by Styris at slip. It was a tough chance because it was such a thin edge that it only just made it past Hopkins' leg, and Styris could only get his right hand to it. So Tharanga survives, but Sri Lanka are facing a tricky little period here against the slower bowlers.

Over 22 Styris 1-0-0-0-1-0 108-2 - Styris produces an absolute beauty to beat Tharanga, and it was the off-cutter that just held up a fraction and nipped away as it angled across the left-hander.

Over 21 McCullum 0-4-1-1-0-4 106-2 - Tharanga has slowed down considerably as his innings has worn on, but he picks things up again now as he takes over the reins of responsibility from Sangakkara. First he gets to the pitch of the ball to whip past mid-on for four, and then after Mahela Jayawardene has got off the mark Tharanga slashes another one through gully for four. Sri Lanka well on their way to victory now, and should start to aim for a bonus point, which they'll achieve if they reach their target in 40 overs or less.

Over 20 Styris 1-0-0-0-2-W 96-2 - Williamson was expensive in that over so Scott Styris comes on to test the batsmen with his collection of cutters, slower balls, sliders and general dibbly-dobblies. WICKET! And sure enough, he makes the breakthrough New Zealand needed about 10 overs ago as Sangakkara falls two runs short of his half-century. The left-hander has driven uppishly throughout his innings and it finally catches up with him as he pushes at a slower ball and is brialliantly caught by a diving Guptill at short cover.

Over 19 McCullum 0-0-0-0-1-0 93-1 - Sri Lanka are in for a bit more of a long slog now I suspect as things slow up with the introduction of the spinners. There's some real bite in this pitch with the ball coming out of the surface quite slowly and taking some turn. All in all I must say this is a great one-day pitch, with something in it for batsmen and bowlers which always ensures an intriguing contest.

Over 18 Williamson wd-wd-0-2-2-0-4b-0 92-1 - Emthused by the success of their premier spinner, the Black Caps throw Kane Williamson into the fray - the batsman with a wicket but no international runs to his name after two one-dayers. He also looks to toss the ball up, but overdoes it as the first two balls drift down the leg side. Sangakkara works the ball into gaps for a couple of twos, but is then beaten all ends up by flight and turn from Williamson. Even Hopkins is surprised by how much the ball spins, and the ball runs away for four byes.

Over 17 McCullum 0-0-0-0-1-0 82-1 - Nathan McCullum enters the mix for the first time this series, and he starts very nicely. Lots of flight, some drift and he gets the ball to hold up in the turf, and had he employed a silly mid-off Sangakkara would have popped a couple of deliveries straight to him. Instead they fall short of short cover and Sangakkara eventually turns one round the corner for a single. Nevertheless an impressive start for McCullum.

Over 16 Southee 0-1-0-1-4-1 81-1 - Chance! But it's a really tough one for Tuffey at mid-off as he runs five paces to his left, flings himself and gets a hand to Sangakkara's drive. It doesn't stick, and so the ball runs away for four. Highly frustrating for New Zealand although Tuffey did really well to get there in the first place. This partnership is getting out of hand though, and it won't be long before this game is beyond the Kiwis if they don't pick up a couple of wickets.

Over 15 McKay 0-4-1-4-1-1 74-1 - Sangakkara drives uppishly back past the bowler for four, and although it passed quite close to McKay it was safe enough because he backed himself and hit the ball hard enough that a catch was unlikely. A single out to the sweeper on the off side brings Tharanga on strike, and he pulls through square leg for four as McKay gets his length horribly wrong once again. It's been an awful start by him so I'd be surprised if he got another over. New Zealand just can't afford to leak runs like that.

Over 14 Southee 1-0-1-0-wd-1-0 63-1 - Tharanga is beaten by a beauty that dinks away off the seam and squares him up as it passes the outside edge, but otherwise singles are taken without any real cause for anxiety. A wide down leg side doesn't help New Zealand's cause, and they clearly need a couple of wickets to get themselves back into this match.

Over 13 McKay 4-4-0-1-0-0 59-1 - Sangakkara getting into his groove now, and he shows his ruthless side as Andy McKay gets off to a terrible start. His first ball is too full and wide and is driven through extra cover for four by Sangakkara, and then the left-armer overcompensates and is whipped through square leg as he strays onto the batsman's hips. Such an errant start forces Taylor to employ some protection out on the off side, and so Sangakkara slaps one out to the sweeper with style but only gets a single. Having ridden through a tough patch when the ball was moving around Sangakkara now looks to have begun a counter-attack of sorts.

Over 12 Southee 4-0-0-0-0-1 50-1 - Southee replaces Tuffey, but is immediately hit for four by Sangakkara with a lovely lofted drive over mid-on. A clever change of pace reverses the tables though as Sangakkara edges the off-cutter, but once again New Zealand just can't get one to go to hand - this time the ball doesn't carry to Ross Taylor at slip because it was the slower one. A risky single to mid-off from the final delivery takes Sri Lanka to 50.

Over 11 Mills 0-0-0-0-1-0 45-1 - Mills continues as New Zealand take the bowling powerplay, and he manages to keep Sangakkara tied down with that extra bounce. Eventually the Sri Lankan skipper is just grateful to steal a single to mid-off and get down the other end, but that's the only run from the over so Mills' figures continue to look very impressive: 6-1-14-1.

Over 10 Tuffey 1-wd-0-1-4-4-0 44-1 - An expensive over from Tuffey, especially in the context of this chase, mostly because of a wide outside off stump and then a long hop which is easily cut over point for four by Tharanga. The left-hander then takes a chance when he drives hard at a decent, rising delivery and slices it aerially through the gap between cover and point for four more. Eleven from that over has put Sri Lanka well ahead in the game, and they now require another 149 runs to win at 3.72 per over.

Over 9 Mills 0-0-0-0-2-2 33-1 - Sangakkara's really struggling to get going here, as he leaves a couple of deliveries then runs down the track and mistimes a big shot straight to midwicket before eventually getting runs when he chips the ball just past the same fielder. A flick to fine leg's right also brings a couple to at least keep Sri Lanka up with the required rate.

Over 8 Tuffey 0-3-0-0-0-0 29-1 - Sangakkara chips over cover-point in slightly more convincing fashion than we've seen from him thus far, but it doesn't have enough legs on it to reach the boundary and so he's forced to work hard for three runs. Tuffey then adjusts his length and Tharanga is forced to defend most of the remainder of the over. New Zealand's seamers doing well then, without making the breakthroughs they so badly need.

Over 7 Mills 0-0-1-0-0-0 26-1 - There was much bashing at Tuffey's end of the pitch with a large metal device at the end of the last over as the big fast bowler looked to solidify the landing area, but the break in play doesn't break Mills' concentration. He continues to bowl better and better but continues to have no luck as Sangakkara mistimes, then edges to third man for a single, and Tharanga is twice beaten outside his off stump. There was plenty of movement off the seam there.

Over 6 Tuffey 0-1-0-0-4-0 25-1 - New Zealand desperately need wickets if they're going to defend this low total, but for the moment things aren't quite going for them with the batsmen getting lucky inside edges that don't go onto the stumps and leading edges that fall safely. Tharanga has a waft at one outside off and misses, but then drives on the up through extra cover for four off the next ball. All rather frustrating for the visiting side.

Over 5 Mills 0-wd-0-1-0-0-1-0 20-1 - Mills has found the right length to derive that steepling bounce that both sides spoke about after Tuesday's game, and twice the batsmen very nearly chop onto their stumps. And then he pitches one up a bit further to get Tharanga driving at the last delivery and beats him with the angle across the left-hander. That was very well bowled.

Over 4 Tuffey 0-1-4-0-0-1 17-1 - There's definitely something in the pitch for the bowlers, and Sangakkara is lucky to see a leading edge fly through a gap down to third man for a single rather than to a fielder. Tuffey then overpitches outside the off stump, and Tharanga punishes him ruthlessly by driving past the diving Watling at cover for four.

Over 3 Mills W-0-0-0-0-0 11-1 - WICKET! A pretty epic catch from Mills does for Dilshan, who tried to work a straight one to leg and got a leading edge that went straight up in the air. It went seriously high, but Mills took responsibility and waited patiently for it drop out of the dark night sky. His teammates began to converge but then saw he had it covered. The batsmen crossed, so new man Kumar Sangakkara watches on from the non-striker's end as Tharanga plays out a wicket-maiden.

Over 2 Tuffey 4-0-1-0-0-1 11-0 - Interesting stat on the tele: Daryl Tuffey has taken a wicket in his first over of his first spell 24 times in 21 matches (seven of them were in Tests). His pitch map from the first game is a model of consistency, and he's unfortunate to concede four from his first ball as he gets one to lift on Tharanga, who gets a thick edge wide of second slip as he tries to guide it to third man but isn't fully in control. A couple of singles round off the over, as Tuffey fails to add to that record of his.

Over 1 MIlls 1-4-0-0-0-0 5-0 - A solid start for Sri Lanka, with Dilshan pulling Kyle Mills over midwicket for four. That ball was too short and gave the batsman too much time, but Mills adjusts his length to one that makes better use of the bounce and keeps Dilshan honest for the remainder of the over.

Game on Time for the Sri Lankan chase, with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga to open the batting.

New Zealand All Out For 192 Considering they were 123 for seven at the turn of the 30th over, the Black Caps have done well to reach a tally just shy of 200. Watling carried the top of the knock, while McCullum did his bit for the lower order. Three wickets each for Malinga and Mathews, on a track a lot less spongy than that of the series opener. Batting under lights, this is a testing target for Sri Lanka. New Zealand wise in dropping a seamer for a spinner. Stick around for the chase soon enough.

Over 48.1 Kulasekara W 192-10 - Wicket! Southee seals the deal, affording Nuwan a belated wicket, by holing out on the midwicket fence.

Over 48 Malinga 0-0-1-0-1-0 192-9 - McKay goes to his highest ODI score - four not out - with a lovely whip through square-leg for one. With Southee back on strike, Malinga strives for the yorker again and finds it. But the Kiwi seems to have become a master at digging the ball from the blockhole at the very last moment.

Over 47 Kulasekara 0-1-0-1-1-1 190-9 - Nothing more than agricultural mows on the go now, with Southee and McKay fetching whatever last-gasp runs on offer.

Over 46 Malinga 1b-1-1-0-4b-0 186-9 - So typical of a tail-ender, Southee clears his left leg in a bid to swipe six over long, but has to settle for a scrambled bye as Malinga flummoxes him with a slower ball. McKay then squirts a single toward midwicket despite a cracking yorker, leaving Southee to smear an ugly single to backward point. Striving for extreme pace, 'Slinga' then coughs up an awful delivery down the leg-side, which screams through for four byes.

Over 45 Mendis 1-0-0-0-W-1-0 179-9 - Right on cue, New Zealand opt for the batting Powerplay across overs 45 to 49. Wicket! It's hardly off to a fruitful start, with McCullum slapping a skyer to mid-off. McKay the last man in now.

Over 44 Mathews 2-0-0-0-1-1 177-8 - Mathews has a very real chance of finishing with a five-for today, needing just two tail-end wickets to manage as much. Not yet though, as Southee and McCullum ride their luck. The Black Caps duo are pretty much just biding their time ahead of the call for the batting Powerplay, which will follow very soon.

Over 43 Mendis 0-1-0-0-0-1 173-8 - Southee endures the umpteenth play'n'miss of his fragile knock, then poking a single to gully in scampering away from the strike. McCullum can't do much better, almost squirting a leading-edge straight back to the bowler. The New Zealand camp breathe a collective sigh of relief as the ball bobbles marginally short of Mendis.

Over 42 Kulasekara 1lb-0-2-2-1-1lb 171-8 - McCullum's approach seems very much premeditated at the moment, as he lines up for the slog to pull an off-side delivery through midwicket for then. He then offers a somehwat more orthodox approach, nailing a couple down the ground with a heave through the line.

Over 41 Mendis 0-1-0-0-0-1 164-8 - Flat-footed, wrong-footed and certainly nowhere near to being sure in his shot selection, Southee labours his way through another testing over from Mendis.

Over 40 Kulasekara 0-0-0-1-1-0 162-8 - Nuwan returns to the attack, tempting Southee outside his off-stump. The right-hander, for the time being, won't oblige though and leaves it all alone. Then a slight adjustment in line, a touch closer to Southee, almost sees him chop onto his stumps. Clever bowling from the right-arm seamer, really.

Over 39 Mendis 0-6-4wd-0-0-0-1 160-8 - Running out of partners, McCullum takes it upon himself to up the run-rate, crashing six high and hard over long-on. Wides down the leg-side then aid New Zealand's struggling cause, with Malinga putting in the dive down at fine-leg to prevent a possible five. Southee is left to the strike and can't pick the wrong'un, but survives an lbw appeal anyway. Too high, thanks to a large lunge down the track from the tail-ender.

Over 38 Malinga 1-0-0-1wd-1nb-1-1-1 149-8 - Malinga doesn't get away with a head-height wide this time around, duly punished for an excessive amount of bouncers. Southee appears entirely intimidated out there, playing off the back foot to bobble near catches through the on-side at every turn.

Over 37 Herath 1-0-0-0-0-W 143-8 - Wicket! Frustrated by another string of economy from Herath, Mills tries to end the over - and the bowler's 10 overs for the day - with a glory shot down the ground, but succeeds only in holing out at long-off. Southee in now.

Over 36 Mendis 1-1lb-0-1-0-0 142-7 - Mendis back into the attack in a bid to stifle this threatening stand. He can't manage as much this over though, with Mills and McCullum adjusting their sights accordingly. Meanwhile, ornithologists (those who enjoy the study of birds, by the way) savour a spectacular sight as a hawk flies across the ground to take out a bird of inferior flight. The latter drops dead to the Dambulla deck, leaving one of the Sri Lankan fielders to pick it up by one leg and then throw it to the sidelines. Shame.

Over 35 Herath 0-0-0-0-2-2 139-7 - The mandatory change of ball at the turn of the 34th over a thing of the past, Mills takes to the newer, whiter one with ease, turning a line too straight from the spinner through square-leg and fine-leg for respective twos. Perhaps this bloke should've batted higher than Tuffey in the order...

Over 34 Malinga 0-0-4-0-2nb-0-0 135-7 - Mills finding his feet here, picking the slower ball with near textbook defence before smearing a rank half-volley - angle into the pads to boot - through midiwicket for four. Malinga is hardly impressed and responds with a bouncer, but he's gone and overstepped the bowling crease so it's a no-ball. Mills is unable to do anything with the subsequent free-hit though, swatting at it to no avail.

Over 33 Herath 1-1-1-1-0-0 129-7 - A couple of close-in fielders huddle around Mills, who leaves them to twiddle their thumbs with a couple of confident drives through extra cover.

Over 32 Malinga 0-0-0-0-1-0 125-7 - Plenty of slower balls through the opening blows of this over, before a bouncer balloons over McCullum's head to somehow get away with not being called a wide.

Over 31 Herath 0-0-1-0-0-0 124-7 - With his side in sever danger of being bowled out well inside their 50-over allotment, Mills isn't about to try anything fancy to the left-arm spinner.

Over 30 Malinga 1-1-0-1-1wd-W-W 123-7 - Sangakkara has Malinga wrapped in cotton wool, returning the star pace ace for a third - probably brief - spell. Wicket! The changes works a treat for Sri Lanka, as McCullum scoops a slower yorker straight to point. There is a bit of question as to whether the ball grassed the deck just after reaching the bat, but television replays promptly reveal that it was not a 'bump ball'. Off mopes McCullum and in comes Tuffey, as the hosts venture into a very long New Zealand tail. Wicket! Tuffey's hope with the bat lasts all of one delivery, as Malinga cranks in another yorker to clean up the tail-ender's stumps. Mills in now.

Over 29 Herath 0-1-2-0-1-0 119-5 - Wicketkeeper-batsman and spinning all-rounder continue to complement each other well enough, pushing ruins through the gaps in the outfield and running hard for the potential second. I do enjoy Herath's approach but equally miss young Jeevan Mendis, who impressed for the second-stringers in the recent tri-series in Zimbabwe.

Over 28 Mathews 0-0-0-0-1-0 115-5 - Bragging rights for me. I hailed Mathews as Sri Lanka's kingpin in a recent tri-series preview. Today's trio of wickets certainly lend backing to his bowling prowess, while his batting ability continues to come on in leaps and bounds. But is he the answer to the void left by veteran Chaminda Vaas? Mail me at jonhenry.wilson@teamtalkmedia.co.za.

Over 27 Herath 0-1-0-1-1-0 114-5 - Nuggety batting from McCullum and Hopkins, who are all about working the turn around for singles rather than trying to go big toward the fences. Midwicket, backward point and fine-leg left to clean up the ones.

Over 26 Mathews 0-1wd-0-1-0-1-0 111-5 - McCullum does his best to run himself out, dropping'n'running only to be turned back by non-striker Hopkins. Mathews flies in much like Tuffey did in the series opener, but unlike the lanky Kiwi, the Sri Lankan can't orchestrate the direct-hit mid-dive. Nelson (111, for the uninformed) arrives as the New Zealanders ride their lucky on Friday the 13th.

Over 25 Herath 1-0-0-2-1-0 108-5 - Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey, Andy McKay and Tim Southee are the men to come. Not really inspiring confidence. Fired in and McCullum digs it out for one. Bowling! Hopkins is forward and it whizzes past the outside edge. Sangakkara responds by putting in a second slip. Hopkins sweeps for a couple to deep backward square leg.

Over 24 Mathews W-0-2-1-0-0 104-5 - Angelo Mathews is back into the attack. He picked up two wickets for 20 runs in his first five overs. WICKET! New Zealand are in a spot of bother now as their last batsman goes. It's just bowlers coming in now. Mathews starts with a short one and Watling goes for the pull. He's in no position to play that shot and he skies it. Sangakkara runs to leg gully to complete the catch. Nathan McCullum is away with two through extra cover.

Over 23 Herath 1-1-W-1-1-0 101-4 - By the way, the 50-run partnership came up in the previous over. Styris takes one to fine leg and Watling adds a single with a shot through the covers. WICKET! Herath gets the breakthrough for Sri Lanka. Styris comes forward to drive a tossed up one through the covers. He gets a thick edge and Jayawardene takes the catch at slip. Kudos to Sangakkara for keeping the slip in for the spinners. Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins takes New Zealand's score to 100 with a single to extra cover.

Over 22 Mendis 0-1-0-0-1-1 97-3 - Jamie How, Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott all scored half-centuries or better in the debut one-dayers for New Zealand in recent years. The nudging continues.

Over 21 Herath 1-1-1-0-4-0 94-3 - This partnership is developing nicely. It's currently on 40 and the Sri Lankans will be weary as a big fourth-wicket stand between Styris and Taylor helped the Kiwis to a big total in the first game. Styris gets a couple of singles while Watling edges closer to his maiden ODI half-ton with a paddle with one wide of point. What a way to bring up your maiden half-century! Watling stands and delivers straight down the ground. That's 52 off 61 balls, 8x4.

Over 20 Mendis 2-1-4-2-0-0 87-2 - Nice timing and placement from Styris as he drives wide of extra cover for a couple. He gets to the other end with one through midwicket. Ooh! Watling comes forward to drive and gets a thick edge wide of slip. The ball rolls away to the boundary.

Over 19 Herath 1-0-0-1-1-0 78-3 - Rangana Herath comes into the attack for the first time in this match. Wide and slapped to the man patrolling the cover boundary. Herath gets some bounce and Watling misses the ball. There's an appeal for the stumping and the umpire refers it. His foot was on the ground. Tossed up and Watling eases it to long-off. Styris does likewise.

Over 18 Mendis 1-1-0-0-0-1 75-3 - Mendis continues to fire away outside the off-stump. The ball gets nudged to the on a couple of times before Styris ends the over with one to point.

Over 17 Malinga 1-wd-0-0-2-0-1 72-3 - Watling is scoring at a decent rate despite losing three partners. He faces a different challenge now as Malinga comes back to have a spell with the older ball. Slip in for the fast bowler as well. The nudging continues while Malinga is down the leg side again. First bouncer of the day and it's a good one. Styris just gets under it. Follows it up with a yorker and agains Styris is equal to the task. Styris just tips it to the leg-side and they decide to take on the fielder's arm. It would've been close if there was a direct hit.

Over 16 Mendis 1-1-1-0-1-0 67-3 - Two of the Powerplays are out of the way so it will be all about nudging the ball around for the next 20 or so overs. And so it begins. Styris takes one to square leg and through the covers and Watling goes down the ground twice. Sangakkara is keeping the slip in for Mendis.

Over 15 Mathews 0-0-0-2-0-0 63-3 - This is the final over of the bowling Powerplay and the Kiwis are going at just over four to the over. Watling has done well so far. He took a couple that jagged back on the pads, but has played risk-free cricket. He gets two more wide of a diving backward point. Time for drinks.

Over 14 Mendis 2-0-1-0-1-0 61-3 - Ajantha Mendis will get one over in the bowling Powerplay. Nice work from Styris and Watling as they ease it around the park for a two and a couple of singles.

Over 13 Mathews 0-0-4-0-0-0 57-3 - Nice straight bowling from Mathews and Watling is forced to play with a straight bat. Watling eventually gets it past the bowler and stumps and gets four.

Over 12 Kulasekara nb-0-0-0-1-0-4 53-3 - This is Kulasekara's sixth over of the spell and probably his last. He starts with one down the leg side. Watling keeps the scoreboard ticking with one to fine leg. New Zealand's 50 comes up with a dodgy shot as Styris edges it wide of slip for four.

Over 11 Mathews W-0-W-0-0-0 47-3 - Sri Lanka take their bowling Powerplay straight away. Mathews was a tad expensive in his first two overs, but the skipper continues with him. WICKET! Good decision to keep him on by Sangakkara as he gets the wicket of the big fish Ross Taylor. The New Zealand skipper looks to work it to the leg side, but gets hit right in front of the stumps. The umpire takes a second before sending him on his way. Good decision. Kane Williams is the new batsman. He'll be nervious as he was out for a duck in his debut match on Tuesday. WICKET! Shame, back-to-back ducks for Williamson in his first two games. He looks to drive well away from his body and gets a thick edge. First slip moves to his left to take an excellent catch. Williamson really played a long way away from his body. Scott Styris needs to perform another rescue act here. He nearly departs first-ball as Mathews gets it to come back into him. It went between bat and pad. A double-wicket maiden from Mathews.

Over 10 Kulasekara 1-0-0-4-0-4 47-1 - Kulasekara again gets the ball to jag back into Watling's pads, but the opener gets bat to it. New Zealand, currently No 2 in the ICC ODI rankings, get four overthrows. Taylor wanders down the track and there's a direct hit, but he makes his ground comfortably. The ball deflects to the boundary for four. Short and pulled through square leg by Watling.

Over 9 Mathews 4-4-0-0-0-0 38-1 - It's been a good start by Sri Lanka's bowlers. They've beaten the bat a few times and had a couple of lbw appeals. The Kiwis though won't be too disappointed as they've lost just the one wicket and are scoring at a decent rate. Short and wide and Watling puts it away through point. That's the first really bad ball of the day. Four more, but this time you have to praise the shot as it's a nice punch through the covers.

Over 8 Kulasekara 0-2-0-0-0-1 30-1 - Yes, no from Watkins as he hits it straight into the ground. Taylor was a couple of metres down the track, but was rightly sent back in the end. After taking two square of the wicket, Watling takes one that jags back on the pads and there's a massive appeal. Umpire shakes his head and replays show it would've just clipped the bails. Watling keeps the strike with one just wide of backward point.

Over 7 Mathews 0-0-0-0-2-4 27-1 - We will have a very early bowling change as all-rounder Angelo Mathews comes on for Lasith Malinga. Taylor drivers straight to cover and it bounces just short of the fielder. Taylor mishits one and just clears the fielder at cover. Again he looks to go over the top and this time it's a boundary over midwicket.

Over 6 Kulasekara 1-4-0-0-1-0 21-1 - Kulasekara gets one to jag back into Watling's pads. The opener is hit just outside the line before he gets bat to it. Short of the morning as Taylor walks down the track to smash it straight over the bowler's head for four. Sangakkara responds by standing up to the wicket. Little bit of bounce and Taylor gets it wide of slip for one.

Over 5 Malinga 0-0-0-0-0-0 15-1 - Two slips in for Malinga. Full and straight from Malinga, but Taylor gets his bat behind it. My money's not safe apparently. Teams batting first have won just over 50 per cent of games here. Good thing I didn't have a mortgage to put on it. It's a maiden from Malinga.

Over 4 Kulasekara 4-2lb-0-0-1-0 15-1 - Watling gets four streaky runs as his outside edge rolls wide of slip and goes to the boundary. Another good one from Kulasekara as squares Watling up. The ball hits him on the pads and goes through the keeper.

Over 3 Malinga wd-3-0-0-0-0-0 8-1 - Malinga starts with another extra, this time it's a wide outside off. Watling makes solid contact with ball and pushes it into extra cover for three. Malinga goes past the outside edge a couple of times.

Over 2 Kulasekara 0-0-0-0-0-0 5-1 - Nuwan Kulasekara will share the new ball and he has a fly slip in for Taylor. Nice seam movement, but Taylor is right behind it. Slightly wider and looks to drive, but doesn't make contact. Taylor takes one on the pads and there's an appeal, but the batsman was outside the line by a couple of centimetres. Beaten again by one that's slightly wider. Excellent start from Kulasekara.

Over 1 Malinga nb-1-W-2-1-0-0 5-1 - Malinga starts with a no-ball, but it's a good ball nevertheless and he gets Watling fishing at it. Watling is away in ODI cricket with a push and run to midwicket. WICKET! Just the start that Sri Lanka wanted and needed. Guptill is furious with himself as he departs for first-ball duck. Little bit of extra bounce from Malinga and Guptill looks to play with a straight bat, but gets a leading edge straight backward point. That's Malinga's 100th ODI wicket. Captain Ross Taylor is again forced to make an appearance very early in the match. Taylor's away immediately with two down to deep backward square leg and a quick one down the ground.

Let's get going Debutant BJ Watling and Martin Guptill are the openers and Lasith Malinga will open the bowling. Friday the 13th count: 3

Friday the 13th count We'll try to keep track of the amount of times the commentators make jokes/comments make about Friday the 13th. It currently stands at two. There was one right at the start and another just a moment ago. We've already heard about the "Black Cats" twice.

I have a fear of... ...working on Friday the 13th. My boss wasn't impressed when I told him that and here I am.

Do you have friggatriskaidekaphobia? It's Friday the 13th. Do you have any superstitions and who do you think will be the unlucky ones today? At least Oram is already on the sidelines so the chances of him picking up another knock is out of question.

Starting XI: Sri Lanka Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara(w/c), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga

New Zealand Martin Guptill, BJ Watling, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee, Andy McKay

Teams news The Kiwis will be forced to make at least one change as Jacob Oram is crocked yet again. This time it's a hamstring injury. Peter Ingram and Grant Elliott are also out and Tim Southee, Nathan McCullum and BJ Watling are the three replacements. Sri Lanka on the other hand start with two spinners - Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath.

Pitch report Do we really need this? It doesn't matter what the pitch looks like as the captain who won the toss was always going to bat first. For the record, the track is a lot drier today so even more reason for teams to bat first.

Toss Congratulations New Zealand! They've won the toss and will bat first (surprise, surprise). I'm off to put my mortgage on the Kiwis. Oh wait, I don't own a house.

The importance of the toss About 90 per cent of the teams who batted first at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium went on to win the match so expect the captain who wins the toss to make first use of the track. If Sri Lanka win the toss, then it might be safe to put some money on them to win as they've won 20 out of 28 games here. I'm just waiting for the toss before I head to my bookie.

Get in touch If you want to talk about India's shocking display on Tuesday or how awesome the Kiwis or Sri Lankans are then drop an email to shahida.jacobs@teamtalkmedia.co.za. Also, do you think Yuvraj Singh still deserves a place in the Indian team?

Paying for their poor display Reports claim the BCCI was so angry with India's display that they rejected a request from the players to fly home for a "comfort break". Remember, India played three back-to-back Tests against Sri Lanka and then played the first game only 48 hours after the third Test finished.

The story so far New Zealand kicked off the tournament with a convincing 200-run victory over India. Batting first, the Kiwis posted 288 with captain Ross Taylor scoring 95. Their bowlers then made full use of the bounce in the track to skittle India for 88.

Greetings Welcome to our live over-by-over coverage of game two of the tri-series in Dambulla. Today's clash sees hosts Sri Lanka take on New Zealand.

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