New Zealand target 180 in 20 overs: Live Updates

New Zealand target 180 in 20 overs: Live Updates

Over No. 16: New Zealand 141 for 3 Another wicket to the newcomer. This time he gets Nicol caught at deep midwicket for 58. The right-handed batsman hit three boundaries and four sixes before playing a loose shot. So, eight runs and a wicket from this over. Dananjaya picks up 2 for 32 in his four overs.

R Nicol c Thirimanne b Akila Dananjaya 58 (40)

Over No. 15: New Zealand 133 for 2 Who had thought that Ajantha Mendis would go for 48 runs in his four over spell? Nicol has sent him for three sixes in his last over. Two maximums over deep midwicket, while one over long-on fence. Nicol also brings up his fifty in the same over.

Over No. 14: 109 for 2 Mahela now brings Jeevan Mendis into the attack. Three singles and a two in this over as the bowler keeps a tight line and length.

Over No. 13: New Zealand 104 for 2 Ajantha Mendis takes the big wicket of McCullum, who plays across the line but gives a simple chance to Akila Dananjaya fielding at midwicket fence. Five runs and a wicket from this Mendis' over.

B McCullum c A Dananjaya b A Mendis 25 (16)

Over No. 12: New Zealand 99 for 1 Dananjaya continues. Don't know whether that can be termed as a drop chance. Nicol hits one with extreme power straight to the bowler, who misses the ball as it hits his forehead. McCullum, at the non-striker, checks whether Dananjaya is fine. Three singles off the next three deliveries and then a huge six by McCullum to finish the over.

Over No. 11: 89 for 1 Ajantha Mendis comes on to bowl his second over. Nicol cuts the first ball and scampers off for a single. McCullum takes another single off the next. Nicol swings across the line off the next as the ball races away to the midwicket boundary for another boundary. A dot, single and two runs finish the over.

Over No. 10: New Zealand 80 for 1 McCullum begins Dananjaya's second over with another maximum. The attacking batsman sends a full toss to the long-off boundary for another six. Twelve runs have come in this over.

Over No. 9: New Zealand 68 for 1 Jeevan Mendis has been brought into the attack now. After three singles off the first five deliveries, Nicol launches the last over the long-off fielder for six. A good over for New Zealand as nine runs have come off it.

Over No. 8: New Zealand 59 for 1 It's the another mystery spinner, Akila Dananjaya, into the attack and he provides a breakthrough immediately. Guptill, who was batting confidently on 38, is tempted to come out of his crease and hit the bowler over the top. Guptill misjudges the length of the ball and gives a straight forward catch to Mahela Jayawardene to long-off.

M Guptill c A Perera b MKPAD Perera 38 (30)

Over No. 7: New Zealand 55 for 0 Mathews replaces Mendis. Like last over, Nicol takes another single off the first delivery. Guptill slashes hard outside off and the ball races away to the third man where Malinga misses to read the spin of the ball and leaks a four. A single off the next ball, and then Nicol flicks one off his pads to deep square leg where the fielder makes a good attempt but fails to hold on. A dot and a boundary to the straight boundary follow.

Over No. 6: New Zealand 43 for 0 Malinga continues from the other end. Nicol takes a single off the first. Two good balls from the bowler follow. Guptill makes a little room in his crease and sends a length delivery over the bowlers head for four. Another dot and two runs to end the over.

Over No. 5: New Zealand 36 for 0 The mystery spinner, Ajantha Mendis, now comes into attack. Guptill and Nicol take singles off the first two balls, with the third being a dot. Guptill takes two off the fourth with a well-placed shot between mid-off and covers. Another two follows. The batsman takes full use of the short and wide one by Mendis and cuts it out to point boundary to finish the over.

Over No. 4: Malinga has been brought into the attack. Guptill flicks the first past the short fine leg fielder for another boundary. The second, with a hint of movement, misses the batsman's bat by a whisker. A single to the square leg follows. Two dot balls to Nicol, who sends the last one over short fine leg for another four.

Over No. 3: New Zealand 17 for 0 Kulasekara continues and he misses his line and sends one down the leg side for a wide. A leg bye to Nicol follows. Guptill takes the aerial route on the next, going over the mid-on fielder for the first boundary of the New Zealand innings. He tries an encore on the next but mistimes it and the fielder at mid-on drops a good chance. Another four by Guptill, this time past the short third man fielder. A dot and a single to end the over.

Over No. 2: New Zealand 4 for 0 Angelo Mathews starts at the other end. Guptill takes a single to a length ball outside off stump. Another quick single, this time by Nicol towards mid-off follows. Three dot balls to finish the second over.

Over No. 1: New Zealand 2 for 0 Kulasekara begins for Sri Lanka. The first ball comes in to the batsman sharply, a huge shout for an lbw, which is turned down by the umpire. Nicol takes a single off the next delivery. Two dot balls follow, and then Guptill works the fifth towards the square leg for a single. The over ends with another dot.

New Zealand openers Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill are making their way into the middle.

Toss and Team News: Ross Taylor has won the toss and New Zealand are batting first.

Top-order batsman Martin Guptill is back in New Zealand eleven, taking the place of Adam Milne.

For Sri Lanka, the '90 per cent fit' Ajantha Mendis has been included, along with debutant - who is said to be another mystery spinner - Akila Dananjaya. So, batsman Dilshan Munaweera and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath have been left out.

Teams:

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum (wk), Ross Taylor (capt), Kane Williamson, Rob Nicol, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Kyle Mills

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Akila Dananjaya Perera

Hello and welcome to our Live Coverage of the first Super Eight game between hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the World Twenty20 on Thursday.

With possible showers and thunderstorms expected for today, both games may get affected at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka are still pondering about playing their ace spinner Ajantha Mendis, who hasn't recovered from an injury. The hosts may also give a go ahead to Akila Dananjaya, the offspinner rated very highly by the Sri Lankan cricket fraternity.