373/10 (107.3)
CR : 3.47
355/10 (92.4)
CR : 3.83
New Zealand won by 2 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Daryl Mitchell
0/17 & 0/31102(193) & 81(86)
Deepak: Kane Williamson, take a bow, the man with nerves of steel.
69.5
0
A Fernando to K Williamson
Short of a length banged in, Kane ducks underneath it through to the keeper. The umpire calls one for the over.
One needed off one ball now. The final ball is coming up.
69.6
1b
A Fernando to K Williamson
Short of a length here, Kane swings and misses here. They try to sneak in a bye. Replays show that Kane Williamson dives and wins the game for New Zealand. They win the game by 2 wickets to win another test by the barest of margins.
The third umpire is referred for a run-out check. No need to see the result on the screen as the loud cheer says it all, Kane sensational Williamson puts a full-length dive and makes it into the crease. Unbelievable, Sri Lanka were the favorite to win this game at the start of the day but it's New Zealand who held their nerves and finished as a victorious side.
Over 70
New Zealand 285/8
Neil Wagner0(0)
Kane Williamson121(194)
Asitha Fernando3-63(19.0)
NZ won by 2 wickets
12:12 PM IST: What a Test match we have had here in Christchurch. It went all the way down to the wire and despite the rains and all, New Zealand have pulled off a heist courtesy of Kane Williamson as his 121* has taken New Zealand over the line and knocked Sri Lanka out of the World Test Championships final. India will take the second spot now irrespective of the result in Ahmedabad.
Let's take a take deep breath to recap the Test match overall. It was Tim Southee who opted to chase after winning the toss. Sri Lanka posted 355 thanks to Kusal Mendis' 87 and Dimuth Karunaratne's 50. Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva scored a couple of 40's with the others chipping in here and there. For New Zealand, Tim Southee picked up his 15th fifer while Matt Henry got 4 wickets.
In reply, New Zealand were in early trouble as they lost their first five wickets cheaply for 151 runs. Tom Latham scored 67 at the top. But they were rescued by Daryl Mitchell who scored a majestic ton and Matt Henry who scored 72 off 75 balls alongside Neil Wagner who scored 27 off 24 balls. It meant New Zealand got to 373 and garnered a lead of 18 runs. For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando got 4 wickets while Lahiru Kumara got 3 wickets. Kasun Rajitha chipped in with a couple of wickets apiece.
Sri Lanka in their second innings posted a commendable 302 all out on the back of a majestic ton from veteran Angelo Mathews. He scored 115. Dhananjaya de Silva chipped in with 47* and Dinesh Chandimal scored 42. There were 20s and 30s from the other batters. Blair Tickner picked up the first 4 wickets to fall and was ably supported by Matt Henry who picked up 3 wickets and skipper Tim Southee chipped in with a couple of wickets.
In pursuit of the chase of 285, New Zealand lost Devon Conway for 5 runs yesterday. They were 28/1 when play started today. The first two sessions were washed out due to rain and it meant New Zealand had to get 257 runs in 53 overs with 9 wickets in hand today. Tom Latham was the first to go for 25. Henry Nicholls scored 20 quick runs. Daryl Mitchell provided the impetus alongside Kane Williamson as he scored 81 after the hundred in the first innings. The rest of them fell away. But Kane Williamson stood tall for his 27th Test hundred as his unbeaten 121* takes New Zealand over the line by 2 wickets in an epic Test match.
Asitha Fernando was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets. Prabath Jayasuriya picked up a couple of wickets. Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha got one each as the Lankans used only 4 bowlers in their second innings.
So, this is New Zealand's third highest successful chase in Test cricket as they win the game by 2 wickets. What a Test match and this means India are into the WTC finals for the second cycle running.
Let's take a take deep breath to recap the Test match overall. It was Tim Southee who opted to chase after winning the toss. Sri Lanka posted 355 thanks to Kusal Mendis' 87 and Dimuth Karunaratne's 50. Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva scored a couple of 40's with the others chipping in here and there. For New Zealand, Tim Southee picked up his 15th fifer while Matt Henry got 4 wickets.
In reply, New Zealand were in early trouble as they lost their first five wickets cheaply for 151 runs. Tom Latham scored 67 at the top. But they were rescued by Daryl Mitchell who scored a majestic ton and Matt Henry who scored 72 off 75 balls alongside Neil Wagner who scored 27 off 24 balls. It meant New Zealand got to 373 and garnered a lead of 18 runs. For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando got 4 wickets while Lahiru Kumara got 3 wickets. Kasun Rajitha chipped in with a couple of wickets apiece.
Sri Lanka in their second innings posted a commendable 302 all out on the back of a majestic ton from veteran Angelo Mathews. He scored 115. Dhananjaya de Silva chipped in with 47* and Dinesh Chandimal scored 42. There were 20s and 30s from the other batters. Blair Tickner picked up the first 4 wickets to fall and was ably supported by Matt Henry who picked up 3 wickets and skipper Tim Southee chipped in with a couple of wickets.
In pursuit of the chase of 285, New Zealand lost Devon Conway for 5 runs yesterday. They were 28/1 when play started today. The first two sessions were washed out due to rain and it meant New Zealand had to get 257 runs in 53 overs with 9 wickets in hand today. Tom Latham was the first to go for 25. Henry Nicholls scored 20 quick runs. Daryl Mitchell provided the impetus alongside Kane Williamson as he scored 81 after the hundred in the first innings. The rest of them fell away. But Kane Williamson stood tall for his 27th Test hundred as his unbeaten 121* takes New Zealand over the line by 2 wickets in an epic Test match.
Asitha Fernando was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets. Prabath Jayasuriya picked up a couple of wickets. Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha got one each as the Lankans used only 4 bowlers in their second innings.
So, this is New Zealand's third highest successful chase in Test cricket as they win the game by 2 wickets. What a Test match and this means India are into the WTC finals for the second cycle running.
Daryl Mitchell has been awarded the Player of the Match for his century in the first innings and a magnificent match-winning 81 in the second innings.
So, that's it from this remarkable Test match where New Zealand pulls off a heist to win by 2 wickets and knock Sri Lanka out of WTC finals. Both teams will be back in action on Friday the 17th of March at Basin Reserve in Wellington for the second and final Test. Do join us then and for other fixtures across the globe in our network. For now, this is Ayan Chatterjee signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Deepak Prakash alongside scorer/analyst Zeeshan Naiyer. Stay safe, happy, and cool. Goodbye and CHEERS!