ICC World Cup 2019, Match 3, Sri Lanka vs New Zealand- Best Memes from the Match

Sri Lanka was dismal in the World Cup warm-ups and that didn’t change even in their opening match against New Zealand at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Leaving aside skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, no other Lankan batsman could step up and the team was shot out for a paltry score of 136 in 29.2 overs. The Kane Williamson-captained Black Caps won by 10 wickets with 33.5 overs to spare.

Sri Lanka huff and puff

After being put in to bat first, Lanka didn’t have a great start as Matt Henry trapped Lahiru Thirimanne plumb in front. The batsman wasn’t given out initially, but the Decision Review System (DRS) helped the Kiwis get their first wicket. Thereafter, Karunaratne and Kusal Perera injected momentum into the innings with a stand of 42 runs off 47 deliveries. Perera looked ominous, having scored 29 off 24.

Unfortunately, Henry picked him up in the ninth over. The speedster got his third wicket, sending back Kusal Mendis for a golden duck. Martin Guptill took an impressive diving catch in the slips. Dhananjaya de Silva, the experienced Angelo Mathews and Jeevan Mendis couldn’t cross the single-digit score. While Lockie Ferguson picked up Dhananjaya and Mendis, Colin de Grandhomme nipped out Mathews.

Thisara Perera tried to take the Black Caps’ bowling by the scruff of its neck and scored 27 off 23 balls with a couple of sixes. Unfortunately, he mistimed one off Mitchell Santner into the hands of Trent Boult. The lower order couldn’t show much resistance. Karunaratne went on to carry his bat, scoring 52 off 84 with four boundaries. It was unfortunate that he didn’t get any support from, the other batters.

New Zealand win with ease

Martin Guptill and Colin Munro came out to open the batting for the Kiwis and the duo didn’t die wondering in the middle. Rather, they played their strokes freely and made sure that the Islanders weren’t given a chance of getting a foothold back into the contest. The duo went on to score 77 in the mandatory powerplay. Guptill was having issues with his form and he made a decent comeback.

The right-hander notched his half-century in 39 balls. Munro, who isn’t a regular member of the Kiwis’ team, did well as well. Munro accomplished a well-compiled fifty off 41 balls. The Lankans tried five bowlers but to no avail. Eventually, New Zealand chased the target down in 16.1 overs. While Guptill remained not out on 73 off 51, the swashbuckling Munro racked up an impressive 47-ball 58.

Here are the best memes from the encounter

Yesterday Pakistan batsmen and today SriLanka batsmen….
????????#NZvSL pic.twitter.com/xrPSvmdDkH

— krishnakant raj (@krishnakant_raj) June 1, 2019

Blackcaps when it’s a green seamer #SLvNZ #CWC2019 pic.twitter.com/NhLQ2cbQzV

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) June 1, 2019

#SLvNZ

Cardiff Pitch, Toss and Boult, Fergusson & Henry !!#CWC19 #LionsRoar pic.twitter.com/tXRvFLq21f

— Loshan – ARVLOSHAN (@ARVLoshan) June 1, 2019

When you have played 1 ODI in 4 years but still bat better than everyone else in your side.#DimuthKarunaratne #NZvSL #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/rtzAhBsoLJ

— CricBlog (@cric_blog) June 1, 2019

#SLvNZ #CWC19 #NZvSL
Sarfaraz mood right now ???? pic.twitter.com/Pw6uIl6TpY

— طLحہ⁦⁦ (@Talha__Qaisar) June 1, 2019

Good to see @BrunoMars is still involved with the @OfficialSLC squad… #SriLanka #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/jPEbmyHGXV

— Murali End (@MuraliEnd) June 1, 2019