New Zealand sealed a last-ball thriller in the first Test match against Sri Lanka played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on 13 March 2023.
The first session was washed due to rain as New Zealand began the day at 28 for 1. Kane Williamson and Tom Latham survived some anxious moments against disciplined Sri Lankan bowling. Prabath Jayasuriya was bought into the attack and got rid of Latham taking the inside edge onto the stumps. Latham and Williamson added 41 runs for the 2nd wicket.
Henry Nicholls and Kane Williamson showed intent putting pressure on the Lankan bowling side. Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Dickwella dropped a tough chance to get rid of Williamson. Jayasuriya struck again to get rid of Nicholls caught by Kusal Mendis. Williamson and Nicholls added 40 runs for the 3rd wicket.
Williamson looked solid reaching fifty off 120 deliveries. Daryl Mitchell showed his class with lusty blows putting pressure on Lankan bowlers. Mitchell looked in brilliant touch keeping the scoreboard ticking reaching fifty off 66 deliveries. Mitchell and Williamson played attacking strokes taking the game away from Sri Lanka.
Ashita Fernando struck getting rid of Mitchell taking the inside edge onto the stumps. Mitchell and Williamson added 142 runs for the 4th wicket. Ashita Fernando produced brilliant yorker to get rid of Tom Blundell.
A thriller in Christchurch. #NZvSL pic.twitter.com/7hv2j4bEjJ
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 13, 2023
The match went down right down the wire as Bracewell, and Tim Southee went in quick succession to leave New Zealand in trouble. Williamson kept his calm to complete his 26th Test century off 176 balls. With 8 runs required off the final over, Matt Henry was run out while trying to take a second run.
With 1 run required off the final delivery, Kane Williamson took a single as Dickwella throw to Rajitha but Williamson dived in to help New Zealand register 2 wicket win. Williamson remained not out on 115 to take Kiwis home with another thriller. With this win, India progressed into the finals of the 2021/23 World Test Championship finals to be played at Oval, London from 7th June onwards.
Great performance from both teams
The first Test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka saw some thrilling performances. Sri Lanka was asked to bat first on the first morning. Kusal Mendis 87, Dimuth Karaunate 50, Mathews 47, Dhananjaya de Silva 46, Dinesh Chandimal 39 and from tail helped Sri Lanka post 355. Tim Southee picked 5 wickets while Matt Henry 4 and Bracewell 1 wicket.
Thanks to Mitchell’s 102, and valuable contributions by Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Bracewell, and Tim Southee, New Zealand scored 373 runs in the first innings with a lead of 18 runs. Ashita Fernando took 4 wickets, Kumara 3 wickets, Rajitha 2, and Prabath Jayasuriya 1 wicket.
The second innings was another superb performance by Lankan batters. Angelo Mathews showed his class with a superb 115, Dinesh Chandimal 42, and Dhanajaya de Silva 47 not out helped Sri Lanka score 302 runs setting Kiwis 285 runs target.
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