Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I at Dambulla, SL vs NZ, Nov 10 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

As both captains pose with the series cheque and move to collect the shared trophy, it is time for us to also say goodbye on ESPNcricinfo. On behalf of Srinidhi and Vairavan, this is Sreshth saying ta-da!

Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka captain: (Your game to lose?) Yes, I agree... full credit to them. Undone by good bowling and good fielding. (Concerning, the struggle against spin?) To be honest, only today we struggled. But basically we are playing spin well. (Losing chasing 109) Of course yes, we have to choose right options, that's the main thing. (Overall excellent T20I record, got a settled team?) I think, yes, and these kind of games can happen anytime in this journey. I believe in this bunch. (ODI series next) Very important for us to climb the rankings. Guys are in a good mood to play the one dayers."

Mitchell Santner, NZ's stand-in captain for this series: (Proud of bowling unit?) At the change of innings, I just wanted the team to fight as a unit. There was a bit there for seam and spin and we spoke about taking wickets up top. (Long talk in huddle before the second innings) Yeah that was the mindset. We wanted a few more runs with the bat but we knew it was a tricky surface. We wanted to apply pressure, bowl in right areas and let the pitch do the work. Lockie and GP were fantastic. (Missed Lockie at the end?) He's a world class bowler with his thunderbolts. That was his role, few wickets in the middle, and break up the spin. (Batting has struggled against spin in T20Is, moving forward to ODIs) Yeah it spins a lot here [laughs]. Slightly slower wickets than we're used to at home but we need to find a method and dig in. Today we went too hard too early, assumed the par score to be more than what it was. As a unit, GP has bowled more so nice to throw him the ball."

Lockie Ferguson is the Player of the Match for his hat-trick. The last T20I he played he bowled four maiden overs in the T20 World Cup. And now returns with a hat-trick and POTM award. "It was a full team effort," he says. "Pretty scrappy. Look its nice to be out there, unfortunate to come out after just two overs bowled but GP bowled lovely at the death. (Mission to take wickets?) Yes, that's the job. Run in and bowl. Happy to get a couple tonight. (What matters on this surface?) It spun a lot so from our point of view as quicks, it is about holding one end up and take wickets when you can."

Wanindu Hasaranga is the Player of the Series. (Hamstring?) Finally can get a few weeks break. (Can't play the ODIs?) I think it is bad. Because I can't run, I tried to go for big shots while batting. (Bowling in Dambulla) I just wanted to bowl stumps' line at a five-metre length. Tried to do the basic things."

11.04pm We'll have the presentation shortly. New Zealand, bowled out for 135 yesterday and 108 today, found enough inner resolve to get the win and share the series 1-1 with Sri Lanka. We'll hear from both sets of captains very soon.

10.56pm What a day to be a bowler. Mitchell Santner has expertly used his limited availability of bowlers to eke out a win from nowhere. The young wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay has also contributed with five catches and a stumping - the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a T20I fixture.

Phillips finishes with 3-6 in 1.5 overs but the win was set up by Lockie Ferguson (3-7) who ran through the top order with a hat-trick. That spell gave NZ hope that they could defend 108, and Sri Lanka will be utterly disappointed to end up sharing the series honours.

Pathum Nissanka with 52 was the only bright spot in the SL batting. The second-highest contribution was Bhanuka Rajapaksa's 15, showing how little support he had. Interestingly, NZ's five run margin of victory is also the same number of runs saved by Michael Bracewell in this game when he converted a six into a single with a stunning fielding effort.

Something for New Zealand to smile about, though, after that horrific batting performance of their own. They started the game losing a wicket in the first ball and also fell prey to some terrific bowling from a semi-injured Wanindu Hasaranga (4-17) and a wily Matheesha Pathirana (3-11). But crucial contributions from Will Young (30) and Josh Clarkson (24) ensured NZ, in hindsight, had just about enough. A terrific game (in terms of the plotlines) if you followed it as a neutral.

Naman: "Perfect example of how to make a royal mess of a low target chase."

Mike: "Hay's glove work sending a clear message to the selectors and putting Blundell on notice."

Phillips drying the ball up courtesy a rag from the umpire's pocket

Salman : "Apologies for lashing out on Santner. The poor lad don't have much of an option. I hope NZ pull this off for Ferguson"

Here we go. Time for the conclusion to this humdinger. Or maybe we get a super over? Phillips.

How important was that Bracewell fielding effort where he converted a six into one? NZ still have seven runs to play with. SL need eight to clinch the series

Update from NZC on their media whatsapp group: Ferguson has since been forced to leave the field with a calf injury and won't return for the remainder of the match.

Haven't seen Lockie on the field for a while and also spotted Nicholls as the sub fielder. Is the hat-trick man not available to bowl?! Foulkes returns.

sss: "where's lockie??????"

worried faces in the stands. RRR is over 7 now. Nissanka finally gets strike on this over. Can he finish it well? Phillips has conceded only three