A day when Chris Martin was missed

The last time Daniel Vettori played an ODI, Australia were still World Champions, Muttiah Muralitharan was still an international cricketer, and Osama Bin Laden was still around.

LAST MAN STANDING! - Daniel Vettori's 1st ODI in 26 months. - He's the only cricketer in #CT13 to have played in the 1st edition in 1998!

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) June 9, 2013

Vettori back for #NZvSL. Let's hope his arthritis doesn't play up #CT13

— Richie Benaud (@RichieBenaud_) June 9, 2013

Franklin, Vettori, Mills.That's three zimmerframes in the pavilion.

— I never forget, umm (@CricketTragic58) June 9, 2013

The IPL continues to have an impact on the way cricket fans watch the game.

nathan mccullum playing in a side led by his younger brother brendon mccullum is a definite 'conflict of interest' for me. #ct13 #slvsnz

— George(@georgemoti) June 9, 2013

If it's an ICC event and Sri Lanka are playing, expect some observations on the length of their national anthem.

Sri Lankan national anthem update: Still going on.

— Apropos of Nothing (@sidin) June 9, 2013

Sri Lanka draining New Zealand with extended remix of national anthem.

— The Old Batsman (@theoldbatsman) June 9, 2013

The game got underway eventually. People getting in late would have missed Brendon McCullum take the catch of the tournament, off the first ball of the match.

Here's pictorial evidence of Brendon McCullum's flying skills twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/s…

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 9, 2013

Dear Ramdin. This is what a catch looks like. Regards McCullum #CT13 #NZvSL

— Richie Benaud (@RichieBenaud_) June 9, 2013

Sri Lanka's top order were stunned by some high-intensity bowling from New Zealand's attack. Mitchell McClenaghan looked particularly sharp.

Mitchell McClenaghan performing better than All 3 Mitchells in Australian Team . #CT13

— Dhruv (@IAmDhruvChouhan) June 9, 2013

Yo Mitchell Johnson, that is how you do a haircut! #ourMitchiswaycoolerthanyours

— Ruth Thielke (@sillymidoff) June 9, 2013

Vettori came on quite early, and made an immediate impression.

Reassuring to see Daniel Vettori remembers he bowls with the left hand #ct13

— Bored Cricket (@BoredCricket) June 9, 2013

Daniel Vettori's last ODI wicket in 2011 was Mahela Jayawardene. LBW in the World Cup, just like today in #CT13.

— Sidhanta Patnaik (@sidhpat) June 9, 2013

At 34 for 4, it didn't look like Sri Lanka would go very far.

NZ wants to finish this one early so they can properly prepare for the Game of Thrones finale #SLvNZ #ct13

— Sports Dimension (@Sport_Dimension) June 9, 2013

The further Sri Lanka slid into trouble, the better the Vettori jokes became.

Sri Lanka looked rattled, and it had nothing to do with the noise coming from @NotVettori 's pill container. #NZvSL #CT13

— Not David Warner (@notdavidwarner) June 9, 2013

Kumar Sangakkara resisted from one end even as his team-mates fell around him. Where have we seen that before?

Sangakkara playing an innings that is now more commonly termed as a 'Misbah'. #NZvSL #CT13

— fwildecricket (@fwildecricket) June 9, 2013

per*fec*tion (p r-f k sh n). 1. The quality or condition of being perfect. 2. A Sangakkara cover drive. #CT13

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) June 9, 2013

Despite Sangakkara's 68, Sri Lanka wound up for a sorry 138 in under 38 overs. It meant New Zealand had to come out and bat for about 30 minutes before the mid-game break.

BREAKING: Australia plan to recall Luke Ronchi from his loan to NZ, as a result of his convincing 1* against Sri Lanka. #CT13

— Stick Cricket (@stickcricket) June 9, 2013

If NZ lose a wicket, Kyle Mills is padded up to come out as a lunch watchman #ct13 #nzvsl

— A cricketing Buddha (@aotearoaxi) June 9, 2013

Luke Ronchi fell before the break, but New Zealand remained favourites at the halfway mark. Circumstances changed drastically after the interval, beginning with Lasith Malinga trapping Kane Williamson with a devilish, dipping slow full-toss.

Probably the single greatest kind of dismissal in cricket: the batsman ducking the full toss. #SLvNZ #CT13

— Samuel Honywill (@SDHoneymonster) June 9, 2013

Kane Williamson just Chris Read-ed a Malinga slower ball

— William Hardy (@WiliamHardy) June 9, 2013

That dismissal stunned New Zealand so much they went from 48 for 1 to 49 for 4. Panic time. James Franklin exited cheaply, before Malinga trapped Vettori with another slow full toss. Vettori got an inside edge, but New Zealand had exhausted their only referral.

We've repeatedly referred to this cricketing era as one where teams strive to be "the least worst." On full show here in #CT13.

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) June 9, 2013

Malinga squeezes out extra micrograms of adrenaline from his glands and commands his cells to respond - they blast one beneath the bat #ct13

— Prashant (@cricketvenkat) June 9, 2013

The tension was palpable. Every other ball missed the bat, and the Sri Lankans, led by Kumar Sangakkara, appealed for everything.

"Play the game hard and fair. Be a voice with which Sri Lanka can speak proudly and positively to the world" - Kumar Sangakkara, 2011 #CT13

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) June 9, 2013

Another slow full toss, another wicket. Brendon McCullum bowled under the bat.

That noise you can hear is bums squeaking in the New Zealand dressing room

— The Cricket Geek (@TheCricketGeek) June 9, 2013

Seventeen to get. Two wickets left. Who would you want batting for you?

If only Chris Martin was next into bat. #ct13

— Sam Hiscock (@Chelskirule) June 9, 2013

Just when you thought you'd seen everything, Kyle Mills was run out off a direct hit. The throw was intended for the bowler's end, but missed and caught him short at the striker's. That meant New Zealand's last pair had 15 overs in which to hit the winning runs. One of them from Malinga.

Cricket at its best, 2 tailenders, 1 wicket to survive and 6 toe-crushers to evade!!

— Being Cricket Fan (@BeingCricketFan) June 9, 2013

But Tim Southee was up to the task.

I have no idea how Southee managed to deal with Malinga. Pretty sure I'd just run away. #ct13

— Lucie Muddell (@muddymouse) June 9, 2013

It all ended in the next over from Dilshan, with Southee and McClenaghan scrambling home.

That was close. #ChampionsTrophy

— Ross Taylor (@RossLTaylor) June 9, 2013

You don't say. New Zealand ended up with a net run-rate of +1.048. England managed +0.960 for walloping Australia in their opening game.

So basically the Kiwis barely managed a big victory #CT13 #NZvSL

— Nishant Kumar (@NishantSKumar) June 9, 2013