New Zealand batters produce whirlwind chase to pull off a last ball thriller. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE
Kane Williamson capitalised on an early life to propell New Zealand to a dramatic last ball win over a luckless Sri Lanka at Haply Oval in Christchurch.
The former skipper plotted a well thought out plan to lead the Kiwis to a fascinating victory, albeit heart stopping, as they scrambled for a leg bye and only just made it as the bowler, Asitha Fernando, threw down the stumps at the bowlers end.
The memorable victory breathed new life into Test cricket as the Kiwis, led by Williamson and Darryl Mitchell weilded the willow in lusty one-day style to run down the target on a rain restricted game reduced to 53 overs.
Williamson was unbeaten on 121 off 194 balls with 1 six and 11 fours, and Mitchell followed his first innings century with a blistering knock of 81 off 86 balls with 4 sixers and 3 fours to set the stage of a memorable Test win.
Sri Lanka settled for what’s now expected of them. They looked promising, then rolled over and were rolled by New Zealand in the first Test. With it went their dream of a Test Championship final against Australia allowing safe passage to India who just clinched a 2-1 series win over the Aussies at home.
The final in England will give Australia parity on a neutral ground, and promises a facinating scenario apart from a chance for Australia to reverse their setback.
The batting fired in this game and the Lankans posted a respectable score on the back of a Angelo Matthews century. The Sri Lanka top order also fired to take them to a position of respectability. Matthews was in vintage form scoring 115 to give Sri Lanka much needed stability in the middle order. Matthews made 47 in the first innings to enjoy a great game on his comeback.
Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya De Silva also excelled with the bat and Kusal Mendis and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne made useful contributions to make Sri Lanka’s batting look reasonable.
But the bowlers were unable to back the batters as they struggled to capitalise on the seaming wicket and New Zealand fought back to gain a 19- run lead.
New Zealand were able to overhaul Sri Lanka’s first innings total on the back of a Daryl Mitchell century, with Mat Henry 72 off 75 balls and Tom Latham 67 chipping in.
Asitha Fernando, 4 for 85 and 3 for 63, enjoyed a great game with the ball as did Lahiru Kumara, 3 for 76 and Kasun Rajitha, 2 for104, but were unlucky not to have more success.
Spin had little to offer the bowlers on a slow turner that gave the batters plenty of time to dispense them to all parts of the ground which New Zealand exploited more than the tourists. Sri Lanka’s left arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya toiled in vain on an unresponsive track.
Compounding their woes was their sloppy fielding with vital dropped chances giving New Zealand the impetus to swing the balance in their favour.
Niroshan Dickwella’s poor footwork and inability to glove a Williamson nick was the ultimate difference in Sri Lanka’s chance to swing the game in their favour. His batting was no better.
Sri Lanka now play for respectability in the second Test and will need a win to take some solace from what might have been on the Test Championship.
