NZ vs SL

5:22 pm local time (9:42 am IST): So that is all we have for you from the Basin Reserve. Do make sure to join us on Wednesday from Seddon Park in Hamilton when the players get on with the second match of the series from 2:00 pm local time (6:30 am IST). For now, this is the pair of Karthik Raj and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Mitchell Santner (New Zealand captain): The wind is obviously a factor, which helped, but bowlers who bowled into the wind, like Jacob Duffy, were brilliant. I thought that it was a matter of two ends and adjusting to them, one down wind and one against it. We did well to adjust to that. A great start here, but we go to Hamilton next and look to get on with it on a different pitch. Great to see such a turnout on a cold day! 

Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain): "(About the tough conditions on offer) We knew coming here, it was going to be tough. Was too windy. But that is not a excuse. As professionals, you have to play in any kind of conditions. Again batting wasn't good and put us in this situation. Specially want to mention about their bowling. They bowled really well up front. We lost four wickets in the Powerplay, it is tough to come after that. In the middle, Avishka (Avishka Fernando) and Janith (Janith Liyanage) batted well but the score wasn't enough. Need to turn the bad habits into good habits in the future."

Matt Henry (Player of the Match): "Obviously change in formats and getting into one-day cricket, guys were excited. We talked about being adaptable and trying to attack at both ends. (How tough were the conditions today) It is tough. The good thing playing at home, you can understand the conditions. Guys understood that and operated well. (Focus on the Champions Trophy) Of course, playing for New Zealand is always important. Moving towards a major tournament like that, there is one eye on that. First of all, we have got games here at home, so focus on that. We know there will be a major challenge moving to Hamilton."

5:09 pm local time (9:39 am IST): 

New Zealand win by 9 wickets with 23 overs and 4 balls to spare! 

Will Young 90* (86) | Matt Henry - 4/19 (10)
Avishka Fernando 56 (63) | Chamindu Wickramasinghe - 1/28 (3.2)

If you get a first-wicket partnership of 93 runs, that too in just over 12 overs, you know that you are in pole position to chase down 178! And it was a bit of a cakewalk after that for the Blackcaps, sealing the deal inside 27 overs.

Rachin Ravindra and Will Young were brilliant up front. The new ball was not used well enough by Sri Lanka and both the opening batters made them pay for that. Every time the length was wrong, the boundaries came on both sides of the wicket. Just when there was the slightest of opportunities to take an extra run, they were at it! 

Ravindra got out holing out to deep square-leg, giving Chamindu Wickramasinghe his first ODI wicket. At that point of time, Mark Chapman walked out to bat. Young took some time with his new partner, but once things settled, the duo stepped on the accelerator and blunted the opposition bowling. 

Sri Lanka's bowling lacked consistency in terms of line and length. The captaincy too was not up to the mark. The fielding, both in the in-field and on the outfield, was poor at times. Just what you don't need when you have win defending a small total. 

Well it looked as though the fielder could have done better with a dive, but he probably thought that it's pointless risking an injury at this stage! 

26.2 Chamindu Wickramasinghe to Will Young, FOUR! WILL YOUNG SEALS THE MATCH WITH A BOUNDARY! Short of a length and angling in, Young pulls it to the left of deep square-leg for a boundary as New Zealand win by nine wickets and 142 balls to spare! Will Young finishes unbeaten on 90*!

Chamindu Wickramasinghe [3.0-0-22-1] comes back into the attack.

Will Young will not get to his hundred today, but this innings will make him feel good. He hardly put a foot wrong and played a knock worthy of a 179-chase. 

25.6 Wanindu Hasaranga to Mark Chapman, full googly on the stumps, Chapman gets forward to defend while he gets an outside-edge to short third. No run.

25.4 Wanindu Hasaranga to Will Young, FOUR! Full on the leg-stump, Young gets forward to sweep while he slips. However, stunningly he still connects the sweep fine of 45 for a boundary.