Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI at Dambulla, , Nov 16 2013 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
3rd ODI, Dambulla, November 16, 2013, New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka
(33/33 ov) 211/8
(25/25 ov, T:163) 126/6

Sri Lanka won by 36 runs (D/L method)

Player Of The Match
21* (14) & 2/14
sachithra-senanayake
Player Of The Series
189 runs
tillakaratne-dilshan
New
NZ
Full commentary
end of over 2514 runs
NZ: 126/6CRR: 5.04 RRR: 11.25
James Neesham42 (46b 3x4)
Nathan McCullum35 (19b 4x4 1x6)
Lasith Malinga 3-0-31-0
Nuwan Kulasekara 4-1-20-1

So that is all we have from the match itself, follks. It was a stop-start-stop-start-sudden finish game. But in the end a shared result is possibly a fair reflection? Yes? No? Well whatever it is, that is how it stays as the caravan moves on to Pallekele for the first T20. Till then this is Alagappan Muthu, on behalf of scorer Gopi Rangarajan, saying sayonara

Tillakaratne Dilshan is Man of the Series. He says he's enjoying batting through this series. He was disappointed not converting his fifties to hundreds. With his retirement, he says he can work on his batting and fitness and also give the youngsters a chance. Bounce was up and down on this pitch. It is a good wicket if you considering the batsmen take care in the first few overs

Angelo Mathews says it was a see-saw game. Dilshan and Mahela batter well, he thought, and then the tail batted well to take them over 200 which was a good score. They had to consolidate in the middle, with conditions also playing a part and he praised the bowlers for doing it. He adds that the bowling unit has done well over the recent past and they had to back them up and they did extremely well considering the conditions

Kyle Mills led his side here with the intent of winning the series. He says they came back with the ball pretty well, they persevered and in the batting Luke Ronchi and Nathan McCullum and Jimmy Neesham did well to even put us in a winning position. He called it a shame that the match was cut short, but he said his side hadn't soaked up pressure well enough.

Sachithra Senanayake is Man of the Match for his late cameo and his two wickets with the ball. "Its my first experience winning the man of the match. We're playing a game here after three years and I've enjoyed myself a lot. I've played a lots of domestic matches and with so many experience players, talking to me, it worked out. The wicket turned a bit which we didn't expect at the start of the game and we did well to use that"

So New Zealand's quest to win a bilateral series in Sri Lanka continues, the last one coming 29 years ago. Do stay tuned as we bring you the presentation.

yohan: "Plz don't blame umpires . they go by universal rules start and stop times & lighting rules . they can't set rules for each ground . If NZ were in front at this stage , they would have won . but they were behind from the beginning even at this stage . So deserving win to Sri Lanka ."

5.43 pm The umpires are talking about the light and N Mac is leading the NZ protest. He really does not want to leave, but he has to.That is the end of the game as Sri Lanka come out winners. The players shake hands but this is not how the game should have ended, but then again it was always on the cards here in Dambulla after those rain breaks. The New Zealand top-order crumbled against the Herath and Senanayake, but James Neesham and Nathan McCullum led a spirited counterattack. It would have been another cracking contest, but as it happens, the second innings was curtailed at 25 overs, meaning Sri Lanka take his one by 36 runs and draw level in the three-match series 1-1.

Michael T: "Looking forward to the upcoming "T20" series: which will be 8 overs vs 3 overs, and winning the toss secures a win."

Vinay: "This is really a disgusting umpiring calculations. When everyone there knows how dark it gets by 6 pm, why was the match reset to 33 overs, rather than say 28 overs each?"

Vinson: "If the match gets called off because of bad light, does that mean NZ lose because 20 overs have already been bowled?"

24.6
3
Malinga to Neesham, 3 runs

"push push" comes the call as Neesham whips the length ball on the pads behind square on the leg side and the take a couple

Malinga has gone for 28 in 2.5

24.5
1
Malinga to McCullum, 1 run

another full toss, at shin high this time and he clips it away to deep square leg. NZ are doing considerably better against the seamers

24.4
4
Malinga to McCullum, FOUR runs

hi-high full toss on middle stump and he picks it off to the right of midwicket and the outfield takes it away to the boundary. NZ getting a move on here

24.3
4
Malinga to McCullum, FOUR runs

up and over backward point, Excellent shot from N Mac with third man inside the circle. Short ball, slower as well and it is cut extremely well

24.2
Malinga to McCullum, no run

yorker, with a little away swing as the batsman made room outside leg and looked to hit it through extra but misses

24.1
2
Malinga to McCullum, 2 runs

dropped and that takes the partnership to fifty as the short ball is whacked to deep square leg. It was going low to Kula out there and after having made his ground, he doesn't get he lets it slip through. Malinga is not impressed, but then immediately smiles

Malinga to continue as the mosquitoes continue their distractions

end of over 2413 runs
NZ: 112/6CRR: 4.66 RRR: 11.55
James Neesham39 (45b 3x4)
Nathan McCullum24 (14b 2x4 1x6)
Nuwan Kulasekara 4-1-20-1
Lasith Malinga 2-0-17-0
23.6
2
Kulasekara to Neesham, 2 runs

full toss, this time on leg stump is carted away to deep midwicket for a single

23.5
2
Kulasekara to Neesham, 2 runs

take a couple off a bunt down the ground. Kula bowls a full toss this time and it is struck back down the pitch, the ump had to take evasive action and in all that some good running meant they steal an extra run

Mosquitoes attack Neesh as well

23.4
4
Kulasekara to Neesham, FOUR runs

right up there in the block hole but Neesham digs it out and has struck it well enough to evade the man at long-on. Impeccable ball-striking

5.31 pm Andrew Fernando says "it's got very gloomy here. We could be off shortly"

23.3
Kulasekara to Neesham, no run

loud appeal from Sanga behind the stumps, but that full toss was definitely going down the leg side. No bat on it as Neesham looked to whack it away through square leg

23.2
1
Kulasekara to McCullum, 1 run

full toss on off stump is driven down the ground for a single

23.1
4
Kulasekara to McCullum, FOUR runs

slower length ball, off the back of the hand, on middle stump is pulled away square of the man at midwicket. Lots of power in that stroke

Batting powerplay is being called. Block of three overs and Kula will bowl the first. Still 117 needed off 60

Alex: "Really, I don't see the point to this series. Not only have we not yet had a full 50 over per side game, but its not exactly an A-side vs A-side series. Add to that, we have no tests; I personally don't care about this series."

Long on, deep midwicket out as lots of mosquitoes around the batting crease disturb the batsman

end of over 2311 runs
NZ: 99/6CRR: 4.30 RRR: 11.70
Nathan McCullum19 (12b 1x4 1x6)
James Neesham31 (41b 2x4)
Lasith Malinga 2-0-17-0
Tillakaratne Dilshan 6-0-31-0
22.6
1
Malinga to McCullum, 1 run

change of pace to finish again as he goes back and works it off his hips to deep square leg

22.5
1
Malinga to Neesham, 1 run

slower ball on a length this time and he dupes Neesham who was looking for the big hit down the ground and instead gets a thick inside edge to deep square leg

22.4
1
Malinga to McCullum, 1 run

slower bouncer and McCullum did well in the end because he was into the shot early, waited for the ball to get to him and pulled it away to deep square leg

22.3
4
Malinga to McCullum, FOUR runs

slams it over extra cover as Malinga strays on the yorker, yes don't rub your eyes, you read that right as this time Malinga bowls a full toss and N Mac takes full advantage

22.2
1
Malinga to Neesham, 1 run

yorker again, right on the base of middle stump as Neesham digs it out towards midwicket

5.25 pm Its getting a little dark out there

22.2
3w
Malinga to Neesham, 3 wide

bouncer, but the umpire deems it just a little too high. Neesh was looking to hook that away as well but it was just too high even for Sanga

22.1
Malinga to Neesham, no run

slower yorker, I think it was the off cutter and he turns it away to midwicket. Mathews at midwicket picks it up, takes aim and just misses the stumps. McCullum was gone for all money

end of over 2213 runs
NZ: 88/6CRR: 4.00 RRR: 11.63
James Neesham29 (38b 2x4)
Nathan McCullum13 (9b 1x6)
Tillakaratne Dilshan 6-0-31-0
Lasith Malinga 1-0-6-0
21.6
1
Dilshan to Neesham, 1 run

full-lenght ball, drags it from outside off down to long-on to retain strike