World Cup: New Zealand thrash SL by 10 wickets

Openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro hit unbeaten half-centuries as New Zealand thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in their World Cup opener in Cardiff on Saturday.

Guptill smashed 73 from 51 balls, while Munro stroked 58 from 47 balls as the Kiwis raced to victory in  only 16.1 overs, to win with more than 33 overs to spare.

Earlier, New Zealand fast bowlers produced a clinical display to dismiss Sri Lanka for a paltry 136 in 29.2 overs.

Kiwis skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bowl on a pitch so green that it was indistinguishable from the outfield, and he was rewarded when Matt Henry trapped Lankan opener Lahiru Thirimanne leg-before in the first over.

Canterbury seamer Henry, who conceded 107 runs in the warm-up match against West Indies earlier this week, continued his resurgence to remove Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis in the ninth over to leave the Sri Lankan middle order exposed at 46-3.

Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson joined the party with two wickets in his first three overs, while Colin de Grandhomme claimed the prized wicket of the experience Angelo Mathews for a duck.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne led the Sri Lankan recovery, carrying his bat through the innings with an unbeaten 52 to take the total past 100. But apart from all-rounder Thisara Perera (27), he received no support from the lower order as they were skittled out with 20.4 overs to spare.

Henry and Ferguson, who returned to remove Lasith Malinga to wrap up the innings, finished with three wickets apiece as Lanka finished with the lowest ODI total at Sophia Gardens - below their own record of 138 against the Kiwis in the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Leg-spinner Jeevan Mendis comes into the attack. Guptill gets the first ball on the leg side for a couple before he gets a leg bye after he misses the flick.

A single to Munro before Guptill comes down the track and lofts Mendis high over long-on for a huge six. That has gone out of the ground forcing the umpires to call in for another ball.

New Zealand sitting pretty on 120 for no loss in 15 overs at the drinks break, with another 17 needed for victory.

Guptill has smashed his way to 60 from 45 balls, while Munro has made 56 from as many deliveries.

Veteran Malinga is back into the attack. Two singles from the first two balls before Guptill turns the pacer square on the leg side for a couple.

Malinga bowls a leg side wide as he tries the bouncer and Guptill pulls the next for a four behind square.

Malinga oversteps as he attempts another bouncer as Guptill again pulls it for a boundary to bring New Zealand closer to victory.

Guptill can't make most of the free hit delivery as Malinga bowls a perfect yorker forcing the Kiwi opener to defend. He then clips a low full toss to deep midwicket for two runs to level scores.

In the next over, Munro taps Mendis on the leg side for a single to take New Zealand to a thumping 10-wicket win.

In the next over, Munro flicks Perera through midwicket for two runs to race to his fifty, from just 41 balls.

He then tries to swing the next ball over midwicket but misses before he hammers the next through the covers for a four.

Munro comes down the track and has another mighty heave but is beaten by some extra bounce as Sri Lanka appeal for caught behind. The umpire is not interested before the Sri Lanka decide to take the review, which goes against them as there is nothing on the UltraEdge.

New Zealand set for an easy win as they cruise to 109 for no loss in 14 overs, with just 28 needed for victory.

New Zealand in control of the contest as they look to be cruising towards a convincing victory.

The two openers easily collect five singles from Udana's second over to keep the runs coming.

Munro maintains the tempo as he comes down the track and slams Perera down the ground for a four before taking a single to midwicket.

Guptill drives the last ball uppishly through the covers for another single to get nine from the over.

Udana gets the ball to move away as Munro who tries to drive it through the off-side is beaten before he picks one. Guptill flicks the pacer square on the leg side for two runs and then lofts the last ball straight down the ground clearing the long-on fence for a six, to race to his fifty in grand style from just 39 balls. That also takes New Zealand past the 100-run mark, in the 13th over.

A short ball from Lakmal as Munro goes for the pull which he doesn't connect off the middle but ends up with two runs on the leg side and then takes one.

Munro then drives Lakmal through the covers for two runs before he whips the last ball off his pads through square leg for a four.

Isuru Udana comes into the attack in place of Malinga, who was expensive, giving away 30 runs in his four overs.

Guptill comes down the track and looks to swing the pacer over the leg side but is beaten before he edges the next ball which flies wide of the slips for a four.

He then top edges the pull shot as it goes over the wicketkeeper for another four before taking a single.

Thisara Perera comes into the attack. Guptill pulls the second ball through midwicket for a four before he miscues the lofted shot which clears the fielder at mid-off for a single.

Munro edges the last ball surprisingly Sri Lanka have no one in the slips despite looking for wickets to bring themselves back into the contest.

New Zealand in control on 77 for no loss in 10 overs, with Munro on 39 from 31 balls and Guptill on 36 from 29 balls.

Lakmal starts his third over with a leg side wide before Munro clips the next through the leg side for two runs.

Lakmal then drops short as Munro slashes it over point for a four. The left-hander then comes down the track and lofts the fast bowler straight down the ground for a six.

Lakmal strays on the pads as Munro clips it to deep midwicket for one to get 14 from the over.

Malinga bowls it short and wide as Munro goes for the cut but gets a thick outside edge which flies over the gully region for a four. An angry Malinga goes for the bouncer but Munro is happy to duck under it before he takes a single on the leg side.

Guptill nudges a full toss on the leg side for two runs before taking one and Munro pulls the last ball for two runs to bring up the 50, in the seven over.

Malinga tries the short ball as Munro pulls it to fine leg for a single and Guptill takes one off the next in the covers.

Malinga goes a bit straight as Munro clips it on the leg side for a single before Guptill plays out the last two balls.

Sri Lanka looking to bowl on a good channel outside the off-stump and build some pressure with some tight overs.

Guptill looks to break free as he slices a wide delivery over gully but it falls just short of thirdman for a single.

Munro takes one next ball before Guptill comes down the track and looks for a big hit down the ground and is beaten.

Sri Lanka's pacers doing well to keep the two openers tied up as they are collecting runs in just singles.

Three singles from Malinga's third over before Guptill breaks the shackles as he pulls a short ball for a four through square leg as New Zealand reach 26 for no loss in five overs.

Martin Guptill opens the batting for New Zealand with Colin Munro, while the experienced Lasith Malinga will start off with the ball for Sri Lanka.

Guptill drives the first ball to the covers but gets an edge off the next trying to drive again as it drops short of the fielder at second slip.

Guptill then lofts the third ball over the covers for a four to get off the mark in some style before he takes one next ball.

Malinga tries the yorker which Munro digs out on the leg side for one and Guptill pulls the last ball for a four to get 10 from the first over.

Suranga Lakmal to bowl the second over. Munro tries to clip the first ball on the leg side but is unable to connect before he comes down the track and has a wild swing but gets only two to fine leg and he keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson picked up three wickets each to send Sri Lanka crashing for a lowly 136 in the ICC World Cup match in Cardiff.

Pacer Henry started the rot early on after the Kiwis had elected to bowl, with three quick wickets.

Lahiru Thirimanne (4) was trapped leg before wicket in the first over, while he dismissed Kusal Perera (29) and Kusal Mendis (0) off successive deliveries, in the ninth over.

Captain and opener Dimuth Karunaratne was the only Sri Lankan to offer some resistance as he carried his bat through with a gutsy innings of 52 from 84 balls.

Ferguson tore through the middle and lower order, taking the wickets of Dhananjaya de Silva and Jeevan Mendis, before he finished the Lankan innings with the final wicket of Lasith Malinga.

Thisara Perera counter-attacked with a quickfire 27 from 23 balls but he holed out at long-on off Mitchell Santner, after he had put on 52 runs for the seventh wicket with Karunaratne.

Karunaratne taking a few risks as he shuffles across a long way and paddles a full toss delivery from Ferguson fine on the leg side for a four.

Lakmal then gets a top edge trying to swing it but the bowler has overstepped to give away a free hit.

Strangely, the well-set Karunaratne decides under the free hit delivery as Ferguson bowls the slower bouncer.

He then makes room and tries to hit it through the off-side but is beaten by a full delivery.

Boult sends back Lakmal with a well-directed bouncer as he looks to duck to under but deciding last minute to pull it, as he gets the top edge and is caught in the covers for seven.

Last man Lasith Malinga gets off the mark with a single to thirdman. Karunaratne looking to attack but gets nothing from Boult as he steers the first ball to short thirdman before he digs out the yorker behind square on the leg side for a couple to complete his fifty, from 81 balls.

He does well to keep strike with a single from the last ball to the fine leg region.

Ferguson ends Sri Lanka's innings with the wicket of Karunaratne who pulls a short ball but is caught by Santner running in from deep square leg. He does well to dive forward but the ball seems to have touched the ground as the batsman is ruled not out.

But Ferguson strikes very next ball as Malinga misses a full toss and is bowled for one.

Sri Lanka are bowled out for a paltry 136 in 29.2 overs, with captain Karunaratne carrying his bat through with 52 not out from 84 balls.

Ferguson finishes with three for 22 in 6.2 overs.

Neesham, despite bowling two expensive overs, continues. And he also joins in the party with the wicket of Isuru Udana, who chips a full delivery straight to Henry at mid-on to perish for a duck.

Sri Lanka's nightmarish batting performance continues as they are reduced to 114 for eight, in the 25th over.

Neesham tries a short ball which goes down the leg side and is called a wide but Suranga Lakmal is able to see off the over.

New Zealand going for the kill as the pacy Ferguson is called back into the attack. He nearly strikes with the wicket of Karunaratne with a well directed bouncer at the body as the left-hander gets hit on the gloves which goes over a leaping wicketkeper Tom Latham, who leaps high and gets a hand to it but is unable to hold on.

Ferguson bowls another quick bouncer, this time to Lakmal, as Latham struggles to stop it cleanly and concedes a bye.

The last ball is also short as Karunaratne tries to slice it over the off-side but is beaten.

Boult comes back from the other end. He looks to slant the ball across the right-hander who is beaten a few times before carving the fifth ball over the covers for a four and then takes a single off the last ball.

Karunaratne punishes Boult who strays on the pads as he flicks it in some style through midwicket for a four. He is then beaten next ball outside the off-stump before taking one on the leg side and Perera then goes for the pull but is not able to make proper connection.

Just one over for Neesham before spinner Mitchell Santner comes into the attack, to bowl the 22nd over.

Karunaratne taps the first ball to short thirdman and steals a quick single.

Perera, on 18, gets a lifeline as he smashes one straight back to the bowler who gets his hand on to it but is unable to hold on.

A single to Karunaratne off the last ball as Sri Lanka bring up their 100, in the 22nd over.

Change of ends for Neesham as he replaces Boult. Three singles from the first four balls before the medium pacer bowls a high full toss trying to bowl the slower ball.

It is called a no-ball for height before Perera makes most of the free hit delivery, for a six over midwicket as Sri Lanka look to add some useful runs to boost their total.

Santner strikes with the wicket of Perera to dent Sri Lanka further. After three dot balls, Perera decides to attack the spinner but ends up holing out to Boult at long-on to perish for 27.

A single each to Perera and Karunaratne before the former slaps a wide delivery from de Grandhomme through the covers for three runs before his captain takes one.

De Grandhomme tries the short ball as Perera pulls it over deep square leg fence, clearing the fielder placed specifically for the shot with ease.

Perera has come out with a positive approach, looking to counter-attack and bail his team out of trouble.

Karunaratne looking to just defend everything as he plays out the first four balls from Ferguson and then takes one.

The pacer then bowls a quick bouncer as Perera looks to duck before he plays an awkward pull shot for a single to fine leg.

Boult is back into the attack. Perera nudges the first ball on the leg side for one before Karunaratne pokes at a wide delivery and is beaten and plays and misses again two balls later.

The left-hander then punches a short wide delivery but Neesham comes up with a brilliant stop to save some runs at point and is beaten again off the last ball, for the third time in the over.

Jimmy Neesham comes into the attack. Perera picks one off the first ball before Karunaratne clips the next square on the leg side for two runs. He picks another couple off the fourth ball through midwicket before taking one.

Perera cuts the last ball square through point for two runs as Sri Lanka struggle to 92 for two in 20 overs, with Perera on 18 and Karunaratne on 31.

Ferguson gets the ball to move away to beat Mendis, but gets his man next ball. The left-hander looks to play it on the leg side but gets the edge and is caught by Neesham at gully as he completes a good sharp low catch.

Sri Lanka in danger of being bowled for a total under 100 as they slip to 60 for six, in the 16th over.

Thisara Perera hits a full delivery through the vacant midwicket region for three runs to get off the mark.

Karunaratne then ducks under a quick bouncer before he punches the last ball of the over straight back past the bowler for a four.

A longish first spell for Henry, as he continues to bowl his seventh over on the trot. The first ball is a leg side wide to Karunaratne who then pulls a short ball behind square for two runs before taking one on the leg side and Angelo Mathews defends the last ball.

Ferguson bowls a beauty to Mathews, who tries to defend from the crease but is beaten as the ball holds its line.

Ferguon tries the yorker which Mathews watchfully defends before he pulls the last ball but Boult comes up with a good stop at midwicket to save some runs.

Colin de Grandhomme comes into the attack and he strikes with the wicket of the experienced Mathews in his very first over. Mathews again plays the full delivery from the crease as he gets the edge and is caught behind for a duck.

Things going from bad to worse for Sri Lanka as they are reduced to 59 for five, in the 15th over.

Jeevan Mendis plays away from his body and gets a thick outside edge which flies past point for one.

Karunaratne still struggling to get the ball away. He tries to flick Boult on the leg side but misses and is hit on the pads before he takes one on the off-side.

De Silva then blocks the last two balls as Sri Lanka reach 51 for three in 10 overs.

Karunaratne picks another single as he turns Henry on the leg side before de Silva goes chasing after a wide delivery and is beaten. He gets a thick edge next ball but it goes wide of the slips before he drives the last ball to mid-off.

Lockie Ferguson comes into the attack, replacing Boult. Karunaratne gets a single off the first ball on the leg side before the pacer dismisses de Silva, who is trapped leg before wicket for four.

That was the quick incoming delivery as de Silva on the backfoot failed to keep it out and was struck right in front as he walked off without taking the review.

Sri Lanka continue to slip as they are reduced to 53 for four in 12 overs, with Karunaratne unbeaten on 14 from 31 balls.

Henry check Sri Lanka's progress with the wicket of Perera. The left-hander tries to loft it over the leg side but miscues it high and is caught by Colin de Grandhomme.

Perera walks back after scoring 29 from 24 balls to rally Sri Lanka after the early wicket with a few boundaries.

Henry is on fire out in the middle. He bowls a beauty to dismiss Kusal Mendis who looks to defend a short of good length delivery which moves away enough to take the edge and Guptill takes a good catch diving to his left at second slip.

Sri Lanka in trouble on 46 for three, in the ninth over.

Henry on a hat-trick! Dhananjaya de Silva comes forward and drives a full delivery straight down the ground past mid-off for a four.

The next ball is a bit shorter and comes in sharply as Silva is hit on the pads but the impact is a bit too high. Fantastic bowling by Henry as Silva is beaten last ball by one that moves away to go past the edge.

Henry has taken three for 24 in five overs, to leave Sri Lanka struggling on 50 for three in nine overs.

Perera looking to be positive. He belts a length ball from Henry straight down the ground for a boundary and then takes one on the leg side.

Karunaratne is then beaten outside the off-stump before he watchfully defends the rest of the over.

Perera takes on Boult as he hits the pacer for back to back fours. The left-hander drops short as Perera cracks it over point for a four, with his both feet off the ground as he played the cut shot.

Boult goes full and this time Perera lofts it over the covers for another four before he does well to tap it on the leg side for one.

Karunaratne then nearly chops it back on to his stumps as he gets an inside edge. Infact it had hit the off-stump which moved a bit but the heavy zing bails failed to come off.

Karunaratne struggling as he is beaten last ball as he throws his bat at a wide.

A single each to Perera and Karunaratne before the former clips Henry fine on the leg side for two runs and repeats the shot last ball for another couple.

Boult bowls a wide down the leg side and is also given the first warning by the umpire for stepping on the danger area.

A single to Karunaratne before Perera slaps a short ball through the covers for two runs and then clips the fourth ball to fine leg for one.

Karunaratne again gets the inside edge trying to run the ball down to thirdman and nearly ends up dragging it back on to his stumps.

Sri Lanka have recovered after an early wicket to post 46 for one in eight overs, with Perera stroking 29 from 23 balls and Karunaratne on 11 from as many balls.

The in-form Trent Boult, who picked four wickets each in the two warm-up matches, to bowl from the other end.

Left-hander Karunaratne pokes at a wide delivery moving away and is beaten before he defends the next ball.

The Sri Lanka captain flicks the fifth ball wide of mid-on for a single before Kusal Perera hits the last ball through the covers for two runs to get off the mark.

Karunaratne takes a single to fine leg as Henry strays down the pads before Perera carves a wide delivery over the covers for a four.

Boult beats Karunaratne with one that comes in sharply and hits him on the pads but the LBW appeal is turned down. The next ball hold it's line as Karunaratne is committed after the last ball came in and he is beaten outside the off-stump.

Karunaratne gets an edge off the next ball as he looks to play the drive and it flies wide of the slips for a four through the vacant gully region.

Boult then bowls on the pads as Karunaratne clips it through square leg for three runs and Perera steals a quick run off the ball.

Matt Henry to open the bowling for Kiwis. The first ball is down the leg side as Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Thirimanne glances it fine for a four.

However, Henry gets revenge next ball as Thirimanne is trapped leg before wicket four. The umpire had given it not out before New Zealand took the review which was successful. The ball was pitched on the leg stump and going on to hit the stumps as the decision was overturned.

A poor shot from Thirimanne as he looked to clip it across the line when he should have been defending early on.

Another good delivery from Kusal Perera as the left-hander is beaten by an incoming delivery and is lucky not to have edged it before he somehow manages to play out the over.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has won the toss and elected to bowl against Sri Lanka in the third match of the 2019 ICC World Cup.

Veteran Tim Southee misses out for New Zealand, who still boast of a strong pace attack in Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, along with all-rounders Colin de Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham, with Mitchell Santner the lone spinner.

New Zealand have left out Milinda Siriwardana, Nuwan Pradeep, Avisha Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay.

Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal and Isuru Udana are the three fast bowlers, along with medium pace all-rounders like Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera.

Welcome to the coverage of the ICC World Cup match between New Zealand Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Saturday.

Seven-time semi-finalists New Zealand are playing it cool in England and Wales, with the understated Kane Williamson at the helm.

Since the last ICC World Cup, New Zealand have risen as high as second in the world rankings but have been beaten at home by South Africa, England and India.

Brendon McCullum overhauled the Kiwi cricket culture to lead the country to the 2015 final on home soil, falling to Australia at the final hurdle.

Williamson, who has made 11 ODI centuries, has taken up the mantle with New Zealand winning 43 and losing 30 games since the 2015 showpiece.

The Black Caps skipper has plenty of senior figures around him in England & Wales, with world number three batsman Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill adding experience.

Sri Lanka, who won the tournament in 1996 before making consecutive finals in 2007 and 2011, enter the 2019 edition on a difficult recent run of form.

They are ranked ninth among the ten teams competing here in England and Wales, have been whitewashed 5-0 four times in three years. They called up Karunaratne to skipper the side, despite the opener not playing an ODI for his country in four years.

The Black Caps downed them back then on their way to a runner-up finish and also claimed a 3-0 ODI series win at the start of the year on home soil.