New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I at Auckland, , Dec 26 2006 - Ball by Ball Commentary

all over! Tossed up on middle and leg, Astle gets down and sweeps through square leg for one, and New Zealand have tied the series!

tossed up outside leg, he tries to loft it for four but doesnt make contact

tossed up outside off stump, he drives but gets an inside edge to mid-wicket

slower and fuller outside off stump, Astle looks to square drive it but doesnt time it well, the ball bobs up and drops outside off stump, McGlashan calls for the mad single, and the scores are tied!

bye bye birdie! Insane hit that! Full outside off stump, and Astle picks it so well, just sends it sailing miles and miles over wide long-on, thats so far back into the stands, wow, wow, wow!

fuller length delivery on off stump, Franklin comes on the frontfoot and drives it to extra cover

short and wide outside off stump, Astle's cramped for room but carries through with the back-foot slam, and luckily for him it goes over mid-off and lands safely

fuller length delivery on the off, Astle goes for the booming drive, but gets the outside edge down to third man, great effort by Atapattu saves two runs

hoo hah! The lengths all wrong for his chap, drops it short outside off stump and Astle picks it from where it lands and smokes it over mid-on for four, sweet!

full on middle and leg, Impetuous Astle swipes across the line and mistimes it out to a wide mid-on, agricultural farming type of batting this...Twenty20 on Boxing Day, would you believe it?

whats the reply? A bouncer! Quick on middle and leg, forces Astle down onto his haunches

thats the four he's been eyeing! Slow and full on the stumps, Astle moves his front leg out of the way and slams it bang smack down the ground, a couple bounces and over the ropes, pressure relieved now

short outside off stump, Franklin chops to cover, they set off, Atapattu is slow and cant get the pick-and-throw in time, and a sluggish Astle is home clear

good length on leg stump, an eager-beaver Astle swings at it and bottom-edges into the square leg region

full outside off stump, Astle makes room and drives expansively, but cant beat mid-off

fuller length delivery on the stumps, Franklin comes on the front foot and turns it to short mid-wicket

banged in short again, again he has a swipe and gets bat onto it, but can only chop into the ground for Perera to collect in his followthrough, but even he cant take it and gives up a run...ho ho ho

full and wide outside off stump, Astle has an ugly swing at that and fails to make contact...zip, zero, nada, nothing....

strives for the yorker on leg stump, Franklin drives to mid-on

quicker and it moves in from outside off to tuck Astle up, but he does well to work it to square leg