RESULT
1st Test, Christchurch, December 07 - 09, 2006, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand
154 & 170
(T:119) 206 & 119/5

New Zealand won by 5 wickets

Player Of The Match
3/43 & 4/63
shane-bond
New
NZ 2nd Innings
Full commentary
end of over 335 runs
NZ: 119/5CRR: 3.60 
Brendon McCullum14 (8b 2x4 1x6)
Jacob Oram12 (46b 1x4)
Muthiah Muralidaran 14-5-34-3
Farveez Maharoof 3-0-15-0

It's been an intriguing, low-scoring Test and New Zealand have held the advantage, although very slight at times, all the way through. Jayawardene's decision to bat first and Vettori's defiant fifty proved crucial to the final outcome. New Zealand's 52-run lead in the first-innings was invaluable.

Sri Lanka had their moments too, Muralitharan's four wickets in the first innings and Kumar Sangakkara's outstanding century on the third morning. However they just didn't score enough to stretch New Zealand to the limit.

It's been a fascinating Test and I've enjoyed bringing it to you. My favourite oddity from this Test was Craig Cumming being caught thrice of no-balls. That's about it from us at Cricinfo, your commentators for this match have been Binoy George, Sajan Nair and George Binoy. Do join us for the second Test at Wellington beginning on December 15. Cheers.

32.6
4
Murali to McCullum, FOUR runs

and that's it that, McCullum settles the score in style, that pitches on leg and McCullum moved his front foot out of the way and slog sweeps over midwicket, New Zealand have won a tight Test by five wickets

32.5
1
Murali to Oram, 1 run

swept down to long leg for a single, New Zealand are a boundary away

32.4
Murali to Oram, no run

defended on the front foot

32.3
Murali to Oram, no run

struck outside off stump and they appeal for lbw, that was missing off by a long way

32.2
Murali to Oram, no run

tossed up on middle and off, Oram gets his front foot well forward and watches it spin across his pad

32.1
Murali to Oram, no run

defended on the front foot

end of over 325 runs
NZ: 114/5CRR: 3.56 
Brendon McCullum10 (7b 1x4 1x6)
Jacob Oram11 (41b 1x4)
Farveez Maharoof 3-0-15-0
Muthiah Muralidaran 13-5-29-3

New Zealand need just five more runs. McCullum is in a hurry to get it over with.

31.6
4
Maharoof to McCullum, FOUR runs

dropped a frction short and it's not that wide but McCullum frees his arms and lashes it through cover point for four

31.5
Maharoof to McCullum, no run

slower ball, only 105kmh, bowled a touch wide outside the off stump, driven to point

31.4
Maharoof to McCullum, no run

good length ball and very straight too, driven back to Maharoof

31.3
Maharoof to McCullum, no run

short outsie the off stump, McCullum drives aggressively off the back foot but can't beat the fielder at cover

31.2
1
Maharoof to Oram, 1 run

dabbed short on the leg side for a quick single

Jayawardene hasn't used Jayasuriya as a spin option so far in the match

31.1
Maharoof to Oram, no run

hits a good line and length outside the off stump, Maharoof lets it go

Farveez Maharoof into the attack, bowling from over the wicket.

end of over 317 runs • 1 wicket
NZ: 109/5CRR: 3.51 
Brendon McCullum6 (3b 1x6)
Jacob Oram10 (39b 1x4)
Muthiah Muralidaran 13-5-29-3
Chaminda Vaas 12-3-33-2
30.6
6
Murali to McCullum, SIX runs

shot! McCullum gives Murali the charge and lofts over extra cover for six runs, awesome shot and that reduces the runs needed to 10

30.5
Murali to McCullum, no run

loud appeal for lbw but that wasn't close

30.4
Murali to McCullum, no run

defended on the front foot back to the bowler

McCullum is the new batsman.

30.3
W
Murali to Astle, OUT

Astle goes off the first ball he faces after tea, that one pitched around off stump and straightened, Astle played forward but down the wrong line, he got hit in front of middle and that was pretty plumb, almost identical to his dismissal in the first innings

Nathan Astle lbw b Muralidaran 24 (39b 3x4 0x6 50m) SR: 61.53
30.2
1
Murali to Oram, 1 run

drifting down leg side, worked behind square for a single

30.1
Murali to Oram, no run

pitching on off stump and spins quite a long way across Oram who pushes forward and gets beaten, Jayawardene appeals for a catch behind he was miles from nicking that

Play is about to start after tea. Oram will take strike to Muralitharan. New Zealand need only 17 more to win. It's bright and sunny now, no signs of the rain that interrupted the morning session.

Murali will operate from over the wicket. He has a slip and a silly point.

end of over 303 runs
NZ: 102/4CRR: 3.40 
Jacob Oram9 (37b 1x4)
Nathan Astle24 (38b 3x4)
Chaminda Vaas 12-3-33-2
Muthiah Muralidaran 12-5-22-2

That's tea on the third day. New Zealand need only 17 more to win the first Test. They've recovered well thanks to Astle and Oram who've added 34 runs after New Zealand had lost four wickets for just ten runs in the middle of the innings. We'll be back in 20 minutes for what should be the final session of play, weather permitting of course. Click here to send us feedback.

29.6
1b
Vaas to Oram, 1 bye

bouncer, Jayawardene doesn't collect it cleanly and concedes byes

29.5
Vaas to Oram, no run

length ball on off stump, no room for Oram to work with, defended on the front foot