Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 1st ODI at Dambulla, SL vs NZ, Nov 13 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

11.37pm That's a wrap of this rain-hit ODI. NZ need to win the second match in Pallekele on Sunday if they are to keep the series alive. Until then, this is Deivarayan Muthu signing off on the behalf of Andrew Fidel Fernando, Venkat Raghav and Thilak Ram. Take care and cheers.

Asalanka, SL captain: Ha ha, what should I say [about those wickets]! At the drinks break, we had a chat about the partnership and we wanted to bowl tight overs. That was the only way to win this game. I thought it will be tough for us [with the wet ball] and it didn't turn too much. Of course [the toss is important] and I just wanted to bat first. Avishka and Kusal batted really well and best thing was both of them scored hundreds. Basically, we were short of a bowler and we had to make up five overs. If a new batter comes, I wanted to bowl.

Santner, NZ captain: When you lose two set guys, it can be difficult on these wickets. But we tried to keep firing shots, but if you lose wickets in clumps, it's a challenge and the way Theekshana bowled…Obviously with the rain and dew, we were confident at the halfway. I guess it was one of those days. It was a learning today for sure. We didn't bowl too badly and it was on the slower side.

Kusal Mendis, Player of the Match: Me and Avishka batted really well and the wicket was slow. I managed my innings well and went for the hundred.

11.15pm That is that. SL go 1-0 up after winning a rain-hit game. NZ were quick off the blocks in their revised chase of 221 in 27 overs, but then they lost five wickets in less than five overs for just 22 runs. It was Theekshana who triggered the collapse with the wickets of both Young and Robinson. The other spinners and Madushanka also contributed to NZ's slowdown. Here's Theekshana: "I was just there at the right moment for the catch (laughs). I had a chat with the coach and bowling coach (before the double-strike). Luckily, I got two wickets in that over. We just went with our normal plans. I think I didn't bowl well in the powerplay and we wanted to get more wickets. It was tough with the wet ball but Charith and everyone bowled well. Charith knows the conditions as a batter, he knows what the batter thinks. Really happy with all the bowlers." Andrew Fidel Fernando's report will tell you the full story of the match

No.11 Duffy. Madushanka is on a hat-trick

Sodhi at No.10 for NZ

Niranjan: "@Akindu , the third wicket fell on 14.5 at 95, the pitch is getting slower and they had to score more than 100. What would you expect from such an inexperienced side rather than getting out trying to hit every ball for a boundary. Sometimes it works, sometimes it goes like this. Couldn't blame them that much."

Saniq: "As a Sri Lankan fan, having a Nathan at the crease worries me. I haven't forgotten what Nathan McCullum did to us in 2013."

JD: "Asitha really has blossomed quite a bit as a stump to stump bowler. He gives similar vibes to Vernon Philander (SA)." --- Asitha also has some nifty variations in his repertoire

Nathan Smith walks out to bat on his international debut but Bracewell on strike now

Jay Deshpande: "Agree with @Niranjan. Anyways, it will be a long while before we have a right to take anything away from the Black Caps, especially given that they recently did an Edmund Hillary in whitewashing India in the test series. Nevertheless, I'm always thrilled to see Sri Lanka growing game by game."