New Zealand v Sri Lanka | 1st ODI | Christchurch | Dec 26, 2015 | Match Thread

[Abdul]

Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat first.

NZ XI: B McCullum, M Guptill, T Latham, R Taylor, H Nicholls, M Santner, L Ronchi, D Bracewell, A Milne, M Henry, M McClenaghan

SL XI: Dilshan, Gunathilake, Thirimanne, Chandimal, Mathews, Siriwardana, Kapugedera, Kulasekara, Chameera, Mendis, Lakmal.

 

[Abdul]

Kane Williamson is ruled out from the one-day series opener due to an injury - Henry Nicholls to make his debut for New Zealand.

 

[Amjid Javed]

overcast conditions and SL batting 1st, that's asking for trouble!

 

[Abdullah719]

21/2 in 7 overs.

Milne 4 overs, hit 150kph a couple of times.

Good pace. Looks like he has made a good recovery. Seems to have put on a bit of muscle too.

Thirimanne. He will play dots all day long. Looks like a classier version of Shehzad when he bats like this.

 

[Abdullah719]

23/4. All over the place.

 

[Belawal2014]

C'mon Siriwardene, this is ur opportunity.

 

[Belawal2014]

 

[khalil1986]

27-5 LOL

Will be surprised if they get more than 70-80.

It's not even doing all sorts there is some assistance for seamers but it isn't hooping around corners.

 

[Abdullah719]

Do you realise we will be touring NZ next month?

 

[Belawal2014]

What's SL's lowest ever total?

 

[Belawal2014]

Do you realise we will be touring NZ in a month?

Yahp, gonna be sitting ducks.

 

[Abdullah719]

What's SL's lowest ever total?

43.

 

[kassana420]

Do you realise we will be touring NZ next month?

In our case, Amir will hopefully be there to give them the same treatment with the exception of Williamson.
I swear, he is so hard to dismiss. It's crazy.

 

[Space Cat]

This is a good batting pitch and Sri Lanka are nicking off everywhere.

 

[Pakpak]

Thinking about hacks like Hafeez facing this attack makes me shudder.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

This is like watching the WIs bat in a test match.

 

[Abdullah719]

Thinking about hacks like Hafeez facing this attack makes me shudder.

Boult and Southee are rested.

Tbf I think both are slower (at the moment) than Henry is bowling.

BMac should take off Milne soon. 6 overs consecutively is enough.

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[Thivagar]

SL needs to bring in players who can stay at the crease for longer, Roshen Silva and Kaushal Silva are good options even if they bat at Sr of 70s or 60s.

 

[Markhor]

What was Dilshan doing for his dismissal.

Great crowd in, apparently its sold out. Lovely setting for cricket, batting not so lovely.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

hahahah im scared now... we will need to play some good aggressive cricket. normally nz historically have been pak bunnies but our batting... time for some of thes eguys to prove themselves

 

[marlonbrowndo]

henry is very good in helpful conditions. has impressed me in the world cup

 

[BabarAkmal_Fan]

Siriwardana is a hack

 

[Space Cat]

Can any of these Sri Lankans play the short ball?

 

[marlonbrowndo]

siriwardana has impressed me a lot these past few months

 

[Abdullah719]

Siriwardana is a hack

I wish our batsmen were this kind of hacks too.

 

[Space Cat]

Kane Williamson in the commentary box.

 

[Aman]

Kane Williamson in the commentary box.

Wicket

 

[BabarAkmal_Fan]

I wish our batsmen were this kind of hacks too.

He was dropped on 12.

 

[Abdullah719]

He was dropped on 12.

Doesn't make him a hack. Has played some good shots. Only batsman out there who hasn't looked like a sitting duck.

 

[Space Cat]

Kane is so softly spoken.

 

[Aman]

Kane is so softly spoken.

Yeah, doesn't sound very confident.

 

[Aman]

Prefers reading lol and plays the guitar.

Seems like a cool guy.

Think KW is a big AB fan, heard him speak highly of him a few times now.

 

[Thivagar]

Siriwardana is a hack

He is playing cross batting shots to avoid swinging deliveries edging and being caught behind. He is pretty good at playing cross batting shots like Dilshan so he is sticking to those.

 

[Aman]

No offense to SL's but I would have preferred it if we had invited the Bangladeshi's over.

We played you last summer and the Bangladeshi's are a team we have struggled against.

 

[Thivagar]

Yeah, doesn't sound very confident.

His confident in a commentary box doesn't matter much. His confidence level changes when he goes out to bat.

 

[Abdullah719]

Prefers reading lol and plays the guitar.

Seems like a cool guy.

Think KW is a big AB fan, heard him speak highly of him a few times now.

The guy is brilliant but not sure about his captaincy credentials... is he definitely going to get captaincy after BMac? What is the general view of KW as captain?

 

[Thivagar]

Lot of dumb players in the side, Mathews is a poor captain, i've never seen a good team with poor captain. The captain's energy is usually feeds of rest of the players. Rather have Chandimal as a captain rather than Mathews.

 

[Thivagar]

Carromboy Mendis is in the squad. Should have gone with the leggie Vandersay. Mendis rarely turns on pitches like these, will get tonked big time.

 

[Aman]

The guy is brilliant but not sure about his captaincy credentials... is he definitely going to get captaincy after BMac? What is the general view of KW as captain?

Yeah, he's definitely the next line for captaincy as he's been being groomed for the role for a while now.

From what I've seen, he isn't as aggressive as McCullum but he handles the responsibility well, he's more of a lead from the front type of captain and from what I've seen so far his batting isn't hindered by the responsibility (series in the UAE and Zim).

IMO I think he may actually be a better captain than McCullum as he's more conservative and doesn't go all out attack. He knows when it's the right time to attack and when to look to dry up the runs.

A better balance is what we need right now, earlier the all out attack plan worked when going up against sides who were far superior but now I think we have the players who are capable of going toe to toe with the best in the world, in which case an all out attack can be suicidal and can end up giving the opposition an opportunity to gain momentum and take control (Lords and Adelaide) .

 

[Thivagar]

Kulesekara hits a six coming at 145, while rest of the batsmen choked.

 

[Space Cat]

The guy is brilliant but not sure about his captaincy credentials... is he definitely going to get captaincy after BMac? What is the general view of KW as captain?

Hes been groomed for it for a long time. Captained NZ u19s when he was like 17.

He doesn't come across as a confident leader but hes basically genetically engineered for cricket. He has a natural mind for the game and if he has any deficiencies he will work hard to remedy them like he does with batting.

 

[Dios]

Yeah Bangladesh is without a doubt the best Asian ODI side right now.

 

[Space Cat]

Siriwardana looks decent to be honest. Plays a few dumb shots but plays a few really nice ones also.

 

[Abdullah719]

Yeah, he's definitely the next line for captaincy as he's been being groomed for the role for a while now.

From what I've seen, he isn't as aggressive as McCullum but he handles the responsibility well, he's more of a lead from the front type of captain and from what I've seen so far his batting isn't hindered by the responsibility (series in the UAE and Zim).

IMO I think he may actually be a better captain than McCullum as he's more conservative and doesn't go all out attack. He knows when it's the right time to attack and when to look to dry up the runs.

A better balance is what we need right now, earlier the all out attack plan worked when going up against sides who were far superior but now I think we have the players who are capable of going toe to toe with the best in the world, in which case an all out attack can be suicidal and can end up giving the opposition an opportunity to gain momentum and take control (Lords and Adelaide) .

Hes been groomed for it for a long time. Captained NZ u19s when he was like 17.

He doesn't come across as a confident leader but hes basically genetically engineered for cricket. He has a natural mind for the game and if he has any deficiencies he will work hard to remedy them like he does with batting.

Sounds good. He seems very soft-spoken and I can't really remember many captains with a similar attitude. But it's great if he's captained previously and been groomed for it. Obviously has a good cricketing mind.

Interesting thoughts regarding BMac's over-attacking captaincy. It'll be an interesting contrast.

 

[Space Cat]

Bracewell as usual runs in hard and bowls some great balls that never seem to result in wickets. Guy is super unlucky.

 

[Abdullah719]

Yeah Bangladesh is without a doubt the best Asian ODI side right now.

Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Abdullah719]

Siriwardana looks decent to be honest. Plays a few dumb shots but plays a few really nice ones also.

He has guts. Looks a fighter.

 

[Space Cat]

Sounds good. He seems very soft-spoken and I can't really remember many captains with a similar attitude. But it's great if he's captained previously and been groomed for it. Obviously has a good cricketing mind.

Interesting thoughts regarding BMac's over-attacking captaincy. It'll be an interesting contrast.

I guess the only unknown for me is how Kane will go captaining in a test match. We havent seen him in charge much in the longer form.

I think most worrying is that Tim Southee might be the vice captain. That scares me.

 

[Thivagar]

Kulesekara can't play spin. Siriwardana should accumulate runs, score a 50+ and then just look to solidify his spot.

 

[Space Cat]

Should of been at this game and the 2nd ODI if my tickets didn't get sold.

 

[Space Cat]

Good fifty by Siriwardana. Shows there is runs to be had on this pitch if you get set.

 

[Thivagar]

for Kulesekara. Kulesekara has scored 4 50's in his career, 2 in England, 1 in Aus and this one in NZ.

 

[Space Cat]

Matt Henry is a length bowler he shouldnt be bowling at the death he will go for runs.

 

[TNA]

for Kulesekara. Kulesekara has scored 4 50's in his career, 2 in England, 1 in Aus and this one in NZ.

Away Track Bully (ATB) ?

 

[Space Cat]

Ajantha Mendis is he still around.

 

[Space Cat]

Great catch to end a very good innings by Kula.

Sri Lanka have repaired things somewhat but still 100 runs short of a defendable total.

 

[Thivagar]

Mendis always bats like McCullum, going after bowlers. I remember him playing a revearse sweep and getting caught at Deep Cover lol.

 

[Thivagar]

Oh **** the ball hit Lakmal where Phill Hughes was hit. Lakmal is lucky that these new helmets has padding there.

 

[Space Cat]

This is a 260+ run pitch. NZ will hunt this down quickly barring any disaster.

 

[Space Cat]

I think i bowl faster than Kula does these days.

 

[Space Cat]

100m six down the ground by Guptill. Delicious.

 

[Space Cat]

Kulasekara and now Mathews with the new ball? Really?

These club level bowlers are going to be demolished.

 

[Aman]

This is great fun

 

[Aman]

Kulasekara and now Mathews with the new ball? Really?

These club level bowlers are going to be demolished.

Line and length to McCullum first ball....

 

[Thivagar]

I think i bowl faster than Kula does these days.

naa, you probably bowl at 110 like every club bowler who thinks he hits 130.


LOL at Mathews, tonked for six of the first ball.

 

[Thivagar]

Batting with a cricket bat is too mainstream

 

[Space Cat]

naa, you probably bowl at 110 like every club bowler who thinks he hits 130.


LOL at Mathews, tonked for six of the first ball.

I do bowl that pace lol. So does Kula.

 

[Aman]

Batting with a cricket bat is too mainstream
View attachment 63088

Did a fieldsman seriously try to catch the ball?

I'm going to miss McCullums batting in LOI's...

 

[Space Cat]

Good bowling change skipper.

I would get spin on quick. McCullum isn't as effective when he has to create pace on the ball.

 

[Thivagar]

Did a fieldsman seriously try to catch the ball?

I'm going to miss McCullums batting in LOI's...

He was like "eff dat, I ain't going after dat"

 

[Aman]

He was like "eff dat, I ain't going after dat"

My bad, I mean't the bat

 

[Aman]

I hope McCullum gets close to the fastest 100 record in one of the games.

I recall him being on track for it last summer.

51 off 23 balls.

 

[Thivagar]

Ajantha Mendis is bowling 85km/h pace....

 

[Space Cat]

Finally we see Chameera after the game is basically lost already.

 

[Thivagar]

Should have gone with the leggie, at least the batsmen would be afraid to come down. No point in bowling 3-4 inch turners who make no impact.

 

[Thivagar]

Extreme rear pounding here

 

[Aman]

Last 11 balls to McCullum

4,1,6,1,4,4,4,4,0,4,4

 

[Thivagar]

Fataling would have at least bowled well enough to contain.

 

[Space Cat]

This ground is not particularly small ether. One side of the ground is a big hit. Shortish straight.