ICC World Cup 2019: Match 3, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – New Zealand’s dominance, Karunaratne’s resistance and most stats

New Zealand began their CWC campaign with a big win over Sri Lanka similarly to that of the 2015 edition but in an even more dominating way. Matt Henry ran through the Lankan top-order while the remaining bowlers chipping in with wickets. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne scored 52 and carried his bat but his team were bundled out for 136. The openers Martin Guptill (73*) and Colin Munro (58*) secured a 10-wicket win for the Kiwis with 33.5 overs to spare.

All the statistical highlights from New Zealand’s big victory over Sri Lanka in their first match:

Yet another big win for New Zealand:

3 – New Zealand is the first side with three 10-wicket victories in the World Cup history. They defeated Kenya and Zimbabwe during the 2011 World Cup in Chennai and Ahmedabad respectively.

A first in ODIs:

1 – This game between New Zealand and Sri Lanka is the first completed ODI match where three opening batsmen remained unbeaten. The 2009 Auckland ODI between New Zealand and Windies also had three openers unbeaten but the second innings lasted only 10.3 overs due to rain and the game got washed out.

Karunaratne carries the bat:

2 – Dimuth Karunaratne is only the 2nd player to carry the bat in a World Cup game. Ridley Jacobs carried the bat for the Windies during the 1999 CWC game against Australia in Manchester.

2 – Karunaratne is only the 2nd captain to carry the bat in an ODI match. Upul Tharanga achieved this feat while leading Sri Lanka against Pakistan during the series hosted by UAE in 2017. Tharanga and Dimuth are the only players from Sri Lanka to carry the bat in an ODI game.

A record under Dimuth’s belt:

1 – Dimuth Karunaratne also became the first player to carry the bat in three different instances in the List A cricket. Karunaratne carried the bat for the Kandy District in 2017 and earlier this year during the domestic One-Dayers. Only Mudassar Nazar and Grant Flower have managed this feat more than once. Karunaratne’s three instances have come while captaining the team.

Sri Lanka’s worst collapse:

14 – Sri Lanka lost five wickets in the space 14 runs as they were reduced from 46/1 to 60/6. This is Sri Lanka’s 2nd worst 5-wicket collapse leading to the fall of the 6th wicket in an ODI. They were left reeling at 13/6 from 4/1 in the 2012 Paarl ODI against South Africa.

A first for the Kiwis:

6 – As many as six bowlers picked up a wicket for the Blackcaps in this game; the most for them in a World Cup game. Five bowlers picked up a wicket for New Zealand in 17 World Cup games previously but never had six players bagging a wicket in same CWC game.

A tough venue for Sri Lanka:

5 – Sri Lanka has lost all the five matches they played in the ODI format at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. The Kiwis defeated the Lankans twice at this venue as they sneaked through a 1-wicket win during the Champions Trophy 2013 which was Sri Lanka’s first ODI appearance in Cardiff.