Rajitha fishes and Williamson takes a sharp catch! New Zealand win 2-0 on an overcast Wellington evening! Mitchell and Co are chuffed as they swarm Williamson. Was a back-of-length ball outside off. Rajitha tried to steer it square to try and get a single and retain strike. But Southee was good enough to find the edge. Rajitha and Sri Lanka's resistance ends.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Wellington, NZ v SL, Mar 17 2023 - Match Result
RESULT
2nd Test, Wellington, March 17 - 20, 2023, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand
Match centre
Scores: Chandan Duorah | Comms: Madushka and EkanthScorecard summary
New Zealand • 580/4(123 overs)
1st INNINGS215 (296)
2/126 (32)
200* (240)
1/75 (19)
Sri Lanka • 164/10(66.5 overs)
1st INNINGS89 (188)
3/44 (20)
37 (92)
3/50 (12)
Sri Lanka • 358/10(142 overs)
2nd INNINGS98 (185)
3/51 (27)
62 (92)
3/84 (26)
end of over 142Wicket maiden
SL: 358/10CRR: 2.52
Asitha Fernando0 (15b)
Tim Southee 27-13-51-3
Blair Tickner 26-6-84-3
The WTC cycle is done. The series scoresheet shows a 2-0 for New Zealand which does, in many ways, accurately depict the story. But Sri Lanka were much closer, they were on top for a long period in the first game and instead of their cruise hitting an iceberg, it hit a ship in the form of Kane Williamson. He ensured the visitors went winless. Can that turn around in the limited overs internationals? Follow to find out. Till then, it's Ekanth, signing off on behalf of my co-commentators, Madushka Balasuriya and Abhimanyu Bose and our scorer, Chandan Duorah.
Raff: "Been another delightful summer of NZ test cricket. Thanks, Cricinfo, commenters, and NZ's secret weapon: Mac Jean." *Bows to Chapsy*
Tautoru : "KW MOM for me. Great innings and that last catch! " Henry Nicholls has been awarded the POTM award. Williamson is the POTS. The live feed has cut off on the telly. So the quotes from the players will be published in the news and analysis pieces coming up. Check them out here on ESPNcricinfo.
Mark: "SL where still 5 runs short of the Williamson/Nicholls partnership! Well done NZ"
Mustafa Moudi : "As this WTC Cycle comes to an end with this match, I would suggest the no. of matches must remain close (if not exactly the same) for all team. NZ playing just 12 Test in comparison to England's 22 matches doesnt make any sense !!"
Fan: "Rajitha lasted 110 balls and 2.5 hours! That's great for a tailender. Frustrated thr NZ bowlers "
Maddy: "New Zealand wins the windiest test ever(Probably)"
6:30pm: An overtime win for New Zealand. So close yet so far yet again for Sri Lanka. This time it was more conditional as they were relying on tomorrow's play being washed out. Nonetheless, they hung around firmly after toppling in the first innings. Four batters made fifties in the second innings. Many wickets were soft dismissals and fell to short deliveries. Credit to Tickner, who performed Wagner's role in his absence. Sri Lanka's tail wagged, hung and almost crawled back into a branch to call it a night but Bracewell kept plugging away and Southee finished it off.
141.6
W
Southee to Rajitha, OUT
Kasun Rajitha c Williamson b Southee 20 (110b 1x4 0x6 148m) SR: 18.18
Krushna: "What is Rajitha's average currently? " Just under seven
141.5
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Length just outside off, good leave
141.4
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Length outside off, steered to point
Over
mark: "wouldn't be adverse to see captains penalised for wasting reviews. that on smacked of desperation. one from 23 says it all." Yeah, but the loss of review is punishment enough
141.3
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Just down leg, goes across and lets it go
RajaSekharreddy: "And if it rains tomorrow without a ball being bowled!" IFFF!
141.2
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Full at the stumps at 126kph, blocked towards mid-on
Balaji: "Spare a thought for NZ bowlers. They bowled 210 overs straight "
141.1
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Shoulders arms and the shortish ball comes in and hits around the ribs. Has a chest guard which helps
Scheduled play is done. Overtime is now. The shadows have taken over, the lights have faded but still good enough to continue
end of over 1411 run
SL: 358/9CRR: 2.53
Asitha Fernando0 (15b)
Kasun Rajitha20 (104b 1x4)
Blair Tickner 26-6-84-3
Tim Southee 26-12-51-2
140.6
•
Tickner to Asitha Fernando, no run
Length outside off, left alone
140.5
•
Tickner to Asitha Fernando, no run
Length around off, blocks it with the straight bat. Goes off the thick outside edge on the bounce to slip
140.4
•
Tickner to Asitha Fernando, no run
Length ball goes just down leg. Fernando went across and let it go
140.3
•
Tickner to Asitha Fernando, no run
Length at the stumps, blocked in front
140.2
•
Tickner to Asitha Fernando, no run
Is that strangled down leg? Not given and Southee reviews! There was a deflection. Replay shows it's off the trouser. Was a shortish ball that Fernando tried to clip fine. Bat was nowhere close to ball. NZ out of reviews. Craig McMillan says they've taken 23 across the summer and have overturned one
140.1
•
Tickner to Asitha Fernando, no run
And again, slightly fuller maybe. Ducked under again. Two for the over
140.1
1w
Tickner to Asitha Fernando, 1 wide
Bouncer over the head. Ducked under
De Cruz : "These two will remain unbeaten and day's play will be done because of bad light. Then tomorrow one of them will get out first ball. Well, you know. Cricket. " Yep. This will be the last official over. How many overs can they squeeze in? Umps check the light and say it's okay to bowl a quick. Tickner it will be!
end of over 140Maiden
SL: 357/9CRR: 2.55
Kasun Rajitha20 (104b 1x4)
Asitha Fernando0 (9b)
Tim Southee 26-12-51-2
Michael Bracewell 42-14-100-2
Vikas Vadgama: "And with that 9th wicket, I guess NZ can officially get half an hour's extension to complete this match today itself, right??" Yes. Sri Lanka's physio is out to check Fernando's left shoulder
139.6
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Length outside off at 123kph. Back foot taps across before he lets it go
139.5
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Stays leg side and does not bother considering playing it after it landed on a back of length. Went over the stumps. Signals for new gloves right after
Balaji: "What are the chances of play being extended today?" 50/50 given there's just one wicket to go
139.4
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Shortish ball outside off, left alone
Fifteen more minutes before things get dicey, says Craig McMillan on air
139.3
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Length outside off, left alone
139.2
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Length outside off, pushed towards cover
139.1
•
Southee to Rajitha, no run
Jumps up while staying in the crease. Manages to tap it off the back foot to land the ball within the crease. Was a shortish ball at the body
end of over 1391 run
SL: 357/9CRR: 2.56
Asitha Fernando0 (9b)
Kasun Rajitha20 (98b 1x4)
Michael Bracewell 42-14-100-2
Tim Southee 25-11-51-2
Fourth umpire runs in with the light meter.
138.6
•
Michael Bracewell to Asitha Fernando, no run
Full on middle at 78kph. Blocked in front
Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
215 runs (296)
23 fours2 sixes
Productive shot
flick
57 runs
4 fours0 six
Control
93%
200 runs (240)
15 fours4 sixes
Productive shot
flick
42 runs
1 four0 six
Control
93%
Best performances - bowlers
O
27
M
13
R
51
W
3
ECO
1.88
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W | ||||
LEGOFF
LHB
1W | ||||
1W |
NZ
O
20
M
6
R
44
W
3
ECO
2.2
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
LEGOFF
LHB
Match details
| Basin Reserve, Wellington | |
| Toss | Sri Lanka, elected to field first |
| Series | |
| Season | 2022/23 |
| Player Of The Match | |
| Player Of The Series | |
| Series result | New Zealand won the 2-match series 2-0 |
| Match number | Test no. 2500 |
| Match days | 17,18,19,20 March 2023 - day (5-day match) |
| Test debut | |
| Umpires | |
| TV Umpire | |
| Reserve Umpire | |
| Match Referee | |
| Points | New Zealand 12, Sri Lanka 0 |
Language
English
Match Coverage
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Sri Lanka Innings
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