Summary

  • New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by five wickets

  • Black Caps chase down 172 off 23.2 overs and are now very likely to make the semi-finals

  • Sri Lanka bowled out for 171 - Perera hits 51 off 28 and final pair add 43 but the rest struggle

  • Sri Lanka already eliminated from semi-final contention

  1. How's stat?!published at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Kusal Perera's 22-ball half-century is Sri Lanka's joint-second quickest in a World Cup alongside Dinesh Chandimal against Australia in 2015.

    The quickest was Angelo Mathews, scoring 50 off 20 balls against Scotland in 2015.

  2. Postpublished at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    You wouldn't have thought Sri Lanka had lost two wickets in the space of one over with the way that Kusal Perera has been playing.

    Oh, and he was dropped on 0...

  3. Postpublished at 09:09 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Daniel Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    It's been carnage. Half of his shots have been boundaries. Say what you like about this format, but it's producing some great cricket today.

  4. 50 runs

    50 for Kusal Pererapublished at 8 overs

    SL 70-3

    Oh, stunning.

    Kusal Perera drills one firmly through the covers for yet another boundary and that brings up a remarkable half-century from just 22 balls.

    Three wickets down, bit of calmness needed, right? No chance. This has been great viewing.

  5. SL 65-3published at 7.1 overs

    Lockie Ferguson is on early, bringing a bit more pace, but he starts with a full toss on leg stump that Charith Asalanka whips away easily for four.

  6. Postpublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    It's been a powerplay that has given us a bit of everything so far.

  7. Postpublished at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Daniel Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Perera is flinging his bat at everything. Sri Lanka are currently on course for 417, but only if they can keep wickets in hand.

  8. SL 61-3published at 7 overs

    He keeps going!

    Trent Boult digs a short ball in, and Perera is happy to take it on, getting quite a streaky boundary down to fine leg.

    He then goes full, but gifts Perera a full toss to whack down the ground for four more.

    What an eventful start this is!

  9. Postpublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Tim Southee started well with the wicket of Pathum Nissanka, but Kusal Perera has taken a liking to him since.

  10. SL 52-3published at 6 overs

    What is going on?!

    Perera clubs two more fours in the over, the first timed gloriously past point and the next a bit more of a heave through mid-wicket.

    He moves to 39 from 17 balls, despite watching three wickets tumble at the other end!

  11. Postpublished at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Clever from Perera there, coming a foot out of his crease, turning what was a decent length ball into a slot ball. Just mixing things up and just trying to put Southee off his lengths.

  12. SL 44-3published at 5.3 overs

    Even more for the man in the lion costume to enjoy as Perera whacks the next over cover for four!

    A lively counter-attack. Can he keep his composure and make it count? A quickfire 30 is pointless here, as much as it is fun. He needs to bat long.

  13. Postpublished at 08:59 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    That's a brilliant six, Perera whips that away. Someone dressed as a lion in the crowd enjoyed that.

  14. 6 runs

    SL 40-3published at 5.2 overs

    Or just do the exact opposite of that.

    Perera launches Tim Southee over mid-wicket for six!

    What do I know?

  15. Postpublished at 08:58 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Kusal Perera has 21 from 12 balls, and was dropped on 0, but he needs to rein in those attacking instincts now.

    Sri Lanka need a top order batter to stay there.

  16. SL 34-3published at 5 overs

    Trent Boult has been brilliant since I said he wasn't at his best a couple of overs ago.

    Those wickets have given him plenty of confidence and he's steaming in. This will be tough for Sri Lanka to withstand.

  17. Postpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Sri Lanka have again lost a row of wickets in quick succession, they simply have to build a partnership now.

  18. Postpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Sri Lanka are three down early and this is becoming a problem for Sri Lanka.

  19. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 4.4 overs

    Samarawickrama c Mitchell b Boult 1 (SL 32-3)

    Two in the over! Sri Lanka's batting woes continue.

    Classic Trent Boult, drawing Sadeera Samarawickrama forward and getting a hint of swing to take the edge and Daryl Mitchell snaffles the catch.

    A very good ball to the new batter, his feet not quite moving yet, and not much he could do.

  20. Postpublished at 08:53 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    There was no need for that shot, 23 runs came off the 11 balls that came before that ball.