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New Zealand (373 & 285/8) beat Sri Lanka (355 & 302) by 2 wickets

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A spot in the World Test Championship final is still up for grabs if Sri Lanka manage to do the unthinkable and overpower New Zealand in their own backyard. The hosts are fresh out of their record-breaking, 1-run win over England that saw them equalise the series after being asked to follow-on.

The Test, apart from the overall result, also ought to please New Zealand no end because it saw the return to form of some of their key players. Kane Williamson's hundred was a welcome sign of him doing what he does best, as was Neil Wagner's final-day exploits against England.

That he could go back to his trusted short-ball ploy would add to his confidence having been otherwise taken to the cleaners by the aggressive English batters in that series. New Zealand would be hoping that the confidence of that victory rubs off on some of the other senior members including the likes of Tim Southee and Henry Nicholls who have been going through a bit of a lean period.

Sri Lanka come in with a wealth of experience in their batting group but is contrastingly poor on the bowling front. They'd want their senior members to shore up their side in tough conditions, if they are to make an outside chance come true.

When: Thursday, March 09, 2023 at 9:30 AM Local Time

Where: Hagley Oval, Christchurch

What to expect: The venue has a growing reputation for being somewhat of a fortress for New Zealand. They've lost only two Tests here since Test cricket started here in 2014, and it is a result-oriented pitch offering the pacers significant advantage traditionally.

Teams

New Zealand

New Zealand are unlikely to make any changes to a winning combination but could be tempted to include an extra pacer if need be.

Probable XI: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner

Sri Lanka

The visitors will be banking on previous experience to show them the light even as they jostle over their best possible pace combination.

Probable XI: Oshada Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandima, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando/Lahiru Kumara

What they said

It is a match that will be talked about for a long time, but they are a very humble group. Now our focus will shift to Sri Lanka - Tim Southee wants his team to move ahead from their historic win

Squads:

New Zealand Squad: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee(c), Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Blair Tickner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Will Young

Sri Lanka Squad: Oshada Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Nishan Madushka, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake
 
NZ win the toss and bowl on a green surface

Teams:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Oshada Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Kasun Rajitha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee(c), Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Blair Tickner
 
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Same squad and team lol.

Would be a blessing for NZC in the long run if SL win this series 2-0.
 
Sri Lanka well placed so far at 193/3
 
SL 249/4 (60) with a CRR of 4.15 in SENA!!! They're playing Bazball
 
Nikhil_cric said:
NZC knows the truth. The replacements are just not good enough.
Click to expand...
lol, what rubbish. You're acting like the replacements can do worse than get belted around for 5-6 an over.

As if some of the non performing older players are worth keeping around at the expense of blooding in younger players who can contribute to NZC for another 5 or more years.
 
daytrader said:
SL 249/4 (60) with a CRR of 4.15 in SENA!!! They're playing Bazball
Click to expand...

Southee and Henry - 38 overs, 14 maidens, 5-109, econ of 2.87 -

Wagner and Tickner - 27 overs, 3 maidens, 0-156, econ of 5.78
 
FqwZ8R4aUAAcgSJ
 
Veteran batter Angelo Mathews overtook former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya and became just the third Sri Lankan player to have scored 7000 Test runs as the island nation made a good start to the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

Mathews scored a valuable 47 on the opening day at Basin Reserve, with Sri Lanka reaching 305/6 at stumps to keep their slim hopes alive of reaching June's ICC World Test Championship final against Australia.

Sri Lanka need to clinch a 2-0 series sweep over the Kiwis in New Zealand and rely on India not defeating Australia in the fourth Test in the concurrent Test in Ahmedabad to reach the World Test Championship decider and they gave themselves every chance of doing so on Thursday after they were sent into bat first by Black Caps captain Tim Southee.

Southee dismissed Oshada Fernando in the seventh over to give the hosts the early ascendancy, only to have Kusal Mendis (87) and opposing skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (50) take the momentum back with a century stand for the second wicket.

Southee (3/44) trapped Mendis lbw just as the pint-sized batter was closing in on an eighth Test century and Karunaratne followed in the ensuing over as New Zealand fought back hard.

But Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal (39) combined for an 82-run stand of their own, with the former going past Jayasuriya's Test total of 6973 runs before being dismissed by Matt Henry just after bringing up his 7000th Test run.

Southee also picked up his own milestone during the day, with the right-armer drawing level with former spinner Daniel Vettori and becoming New Zealand's highest wicket-taker in Test history behind Sir Richard Hadlee (431) with 362 Test scalps.

Dhananjaya de Silva (39*) and Kasun Rajitha (16*) put on some further late runs for Sri Lanka as light faded late in the day, with the duo to return to the crease on the second day and sure to be keen to add further runs to press home their advantage.

ICC
 
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I expected to wake up and see that Sri Lanka were about 180 all out.

Great effort from them on Day 1.
 
SL have done well. They are ahead after Day 1.

SL can make it to WTC final if they can win 2-0 and if Aussies beat India in the ongoing Test.
 
Saj said:
I expected to wake up and see that Sri Lanka were about 180 all out.

Great effort from them on Day 1.
Click to expand...

I also thought SL would get blown away. This is a green pitch.

They counterattacked and it worked.
 
sweep_shot said:
I also thought SL would get blown away. This is a green pitch.

They counterattacked and it worked.
Click to expand...
There's very little after Southee and Henry.

Tickner and Wagner are there for the taking and the SLs have cashed in.
 
Aman said:
lol, what rubbish. You're acting like the replacements can do worse than get belted around for 5-6 an over.

As if some of the non performing older players are worth keeping around at the expense of blooding in younger players who can contribute to NZC for another 5 or more years.
Click to expand...

whose waiting in the wings? often given its lack of coverage its hard to tell what the secondary ranks in NZ look like. from outside it looks like the passing of a golden generation, with jamieson being the only real world class bowler to debut in the last five years or so.
 
Day 2: Lunch Break - New Zealand trail by 343 runs

SL 355
NZ 12/0 (6) CRR: 2
 
50 year old Wagner gets rinsed again. :91:

What is stopping New Zealand from putting him out to pasture?
 
SL 355
NZ 162/5 (63) CRR: 2.57
Day 2: Stumps - New Zealand trail by 193 runs


Day 2 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch: Sri Lanka 355 in 92.4 overs (Kusal Mendis 87, Dimuth Karunaratne 50, Angelo Mathews 47; Tim Southee 5-64, Matt Henry 4-80) met New Zealand 162-5 in 63 overs (Tom Latham 67, Daryl Mitchell 40no; Lahiru Kumara 2-34, Asitha Fernando 2-42)

Sri Lanka have put themselves in a wonderful position for their first away test win over New Zealand in 17 years.

For the second straight day it was advantage Sri Lanka, who nabbed three wickets for nine runs on Friday at Hagley Oval and reduced New Zealand to 162-5 at stumps.

New Zealand trail by 193 runs on the first innings and have a mountain of work to do with the bat on Saturday to fight their way back into the match. Daryl Mitchell was unbeaten at the close of play on 40 with the in-form Tom Blundell falling 20 minutes before stumps for seven.

After New Zealand slumped to 76-3, Sri Lanka put an exclamation point on a successful day, taking the big wicket of Tom Latham for 67, who fell to a yorker from Asitha Fernando.

Sri Lanka were delighted to see the back of Latham, who has feasted against them – scoring a test-best 264 not out at the Basin Reserve in December 2018. Latham also struck 176 against them at Hagley during that same series.

It was Sri Lanka’s day again after making a positive start on Thursday – fuelling hope of a third away test win over New Zealand with the last coming in December 2006.

More importantly, an upset away win would keep alive their outside shot of making the World Test Championship final in June.

After Latham and Devon Conway safely negotiated the new ball and added 67 for the opening wicket, New Zealand crumbled, losing three wickets for nine runs.

The excitement levels and noise among the Sri Lankan fielders ramped up with each wicket, making major inroads into New Zealand's top order.

It was nearly four quick wickets with Mitchell surviving a huge lbw shout when he was on one from Kasun Rajitha’s bowling.

Henry Nicholls’ miserable run with the bat continued, falling meekly for two to leave New Zealand in trouble at 76-3.

Nicholls has scored just 230 runs from his last 14 innings at 16.4, not scoring a half-century since February 2022. He will be fighting for his test future in the second innings and second test, if persisted with.

Down on confidence, Nicholls tried to play positively, attempting to pull, but was undone by the extra bounce, skying it up in the air.

New Zealand’s promising 67-run opening stand ended when Conway was struck in front by Fernando. He was given out on-field by umpire Chris Gaffaney with Conway reviewing the call.

Conway was somewhat unlucky with it looking like it might have struck him outside the line. It was a tight call, but he had to go with DRS showing umpire's call on impact and projection on where it would hit.

Sri Lanka were jubilant when they had a second just before tea, snaring the wicket of Kane Williamson for one.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne brought Lahiru Kumara back into the attack and it paid immediate rewards. Kumara troubled Williamson throughout the over and set him up with his last delivery, producing a loose shot to Karunaratne at short cover.

Sri Lanka began the day at 305-6, adding 50 runs to their overnight tally.

Not known for their batting exploits, their last four men Rajitha (22) Prabath Jayasuriya (13) Kumara (13no) and Fernando (10) all achieved their highest test scores.

Tim Southee, who moved to second outright on New Zealand's test wicket taking list on Thursday, surpassing Daniel Vettori, took his 15th five wicket bag, finishing with 5-64. Southee has 364 test wickets from 93 matches – 67 behind Sir Richard Hadlee’s record mark of 431.

Stuff NZ Cricket
 
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SL dominating NZ in their backyard while we couldn't lay a glove on them home and away. What a truly abject Test team we have.
 
ElRaja said:
whose waiting in the wings? often given its lack of coverage its hard to tell what the secondary ranks in NZ look like. from outside it looks like the passing of a golden generation, with jamieson being the only real world class bowler to debut in the last five years or so.
Click to expand...

They don't have anyone better if Jamieson is injured. That's the real truth despite Aman randomly throwing about names.

NZC loses around 500,000-700,000 dollars per Test when uts not the Big 3 touring. There's just no incentive to play Test cricket.

Apart from Australia, nobody can consistently churn out Test class cricketers today.
 
Markhor said:
SL dominating NZ in their backyard while we couldn't lay a glove on them home and away. What a truly abject Test team we have.
Click to expand...

Absolutely correct. It's painful to see sad state of affairs in Pakistan cricket, Pakistan test team should have been more stronger than Sri Lanka & Bang but it is rather declining. The main reason for the downfall is Pakistan doesn't have good set of bowlers (pacers & spinners) who can take 20 wickets in a test match. Sorry to say the current set of bowlers in Pak are not match winners, they are occasionals performers and hyped a lot by fans & media
 
zaidihusain said:
Absolutely correct. It's painful to see sad state of affairs in Pakistan cricket, Pakistan test team should have been more stronger than Sri Lanka & Bang but it is rather declining. The main reason for the downfall is Pakistan doesn't have good set of bowlers (pacers & spinners) who can take 20 wickets in a test match. Sorry to say the current set of bowlers in Pak are not match winners, they are occasionals performers and hyped a lot by fans & media
Click to expand...


If you make 20 20 priority , you will not get fast bowlers who can bowl 15 - 20 overs a day. Pakistan spinners also lack penetration at Test level. Pakistan need to play at least 12 Test Matches a year , bring in more A Tours to other countries.
 
Lanka need to get last three wickets quickly here , and get a solid lead behind them
 
Day 3: Innings Break - New Zealand lead by 18 runs

SL 355
NZ 373 (107.3) CRR: 3.47
 
Great comeback by NZ and probably have an advantage now.

NZ 373
SL 355 & 83/3 (38) CRR: 2.18
Day 3: Stumps - Sri Lanka lead by 65 runs

A leg injury to Neil Wagner late on day three has soured New Zealand's fightback against Sri Lanka.

After two sub-par days, New Zealand clawed their way back on Saturday at Hagley Oval, courtesy of a fifth test ton from Daryl Mitchell and test-best 72 from Matt Henry – which featured 24 runs from a Kasun Rajitha over.

Wagner injured his right leg while loading up in his run-up during the last hour – his third over of the innings.

He bowled the next delivery, but was in clear discomfort and forced from the field. If he is unable to bowl on Sunday, it would be a blow for New Zealand’s pace attack. Henry also left the field with a cut to his hand late on Saturday.

The match was delicately poised at stumps with Sri Lanka 83-3 in their second dig, giving them a lead of 65 runs.

Mitchell’s century and some late order pyrotechnics propelled New Zealand to a first innings’ total of 373 – a lead of 18 on the first innings.

It was some recovery after starting the day at 162-5, which became 188-6 when Michael Bracewell fell in the first session.

Blair Tickner, who struggled in the first innings, going 0-103 from 20 overs, atoned early in Sri Lanka’s second innings, getting rid of openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando, reducing them to 47-2. Tickner added a third, removing Kusal Mendis late in the day.

He might not be able to buy a run, but Henry Nicholls pulled off a sharp diving effort in the gully to dismiss Karunaratne with Tickner’s fourth delivery.

With the sun baking down and the pitch browning off, New Zealand took advantage of the best batting conditions in the match so far.

Mitchell was superb, bringing up his fifth test ton and second at his Hagley home – also hitting a maiden unbeaten ton there against Pakistan in January 2021.

There was no shortage of emotion when he scampered through for two to bring up his ton. Cheered on by wife Amy and young daughters, Addison and Lily, dressed up as cricket unicorns in tutus for day three dress-up day, this meant plenty to him.

Mitchell has been in brilliant touch since the June tour of England, where he was one of the few bright spots in a 3-0 test series sweep, hitting three centuries – including a test-best 190 in Nottingham.

It was some century from Mitchell, given the situation when he walked to the crease on Friday at 76-3 and the difficult batting conditions he faced. The ball was swinging and seaming about and a confident Sri Lankan pace attack had New Zealand under pressure.

Mitchell and Tim Southee combined for a 47-run stand before Mitchell and Henry added 56 for the eighth wicket.

The fireworks then arrived with Henry and Wagner belting the Sri Lanka bowlers around the ground, smashing 69 runs off 49 balls in their entertaining ninth wicket partnership.

Henry showed off his power hitting ability, clubbing 24 off an over from Rajitha, which included five boundaries as New Zealand erased the first innings’ deficit.

A more than capable lower order batter, Henry put on a batting clinic at his Hagley home, hitting 10 fours and three sixes in his eye-catching knock.

The runs flowed at a rapid rate with Henry and Wagner, who struck a crucial 27, combining for a valuable 69-run ninth wicket stand from just 49 balls. Wagner also got in on the fun, smacking three sixes.

Hagley Oval has been a run haven for Henry, hitting three of his four test half-centuries there.

Sri Lanka were devoid of answers, dishing up short and wide deliveries, which would have infuriated skipper Karunaratne considering how disciplined they were with the ball on day two.

Mitchell fell shortly after bringing up his century, drawing an outside edge through to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Stuff NZ
 
Game is on balance. SL have a very good chance.

NZ bowling attack is quite benign without Jamieson.
 
Wagner ruled out of 2nd Dulux Test against Sri Lanka

Neil Wagner has been ruled out of the second Dulux Test against Sri Lanka at the Cello Basin Reserve after a scan today revealed he has a bulging disc in his back and a torn right hamstring.

Wagner felt pain in his right leg while bowling on Day three at Hagley Oval and the scan today revealed the extent of his injuries.

The injuries will require an estimated six weeks of recovery time.

BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead said the whole team were feeling for Wagner.

“We all know how much playing Test cricket for New Zealand means to Neil and we are all disappointed to see him side-lined like this.

“The fact he was still hoping to play on, carrying these injuries shows you just how determined he is to try and give his all for the team.”

If required, Wagner will be available to bat in the ongoing Test match in Christchurch.
 
SL 355 & 302
NZ 373 & 25/1 (15.3) CRR: 1.61
Day 4: 3rd Session - New Zealand need 260 runs
 
SL 355 & 302
NZ 373 & 28/1 (17) CRR: 1.65
Day 4: Stumps - New Zealand need 257 runs

==

Thirteen days after one of the most epic finishes in test history, another final day cliffhanger could await the Black Caps.

Following an absorbing day at Hagley Oval on Sunday, highlighted by a 14th test century to Sri Lankan veteran Angelo Mathews, it’s all set up for an enthralling day five with all three results possible.

Sri Lanka couldn’t have asked for a better start with the ball in New Zealand's second innings with Devon Conway falling cheaply for five, chipping the ball back to quick Kasun Rajitha.

New Zealand were 28-1 at stumps with Tom Latham unbeaten on 11 and Kane Williamson seven not out, needing a further 257 for victory.

Monday's final day could be another tense finish – just under two weeks since New Zealand pulled off a remarkable one run win over England at the Basin Reserve, the second time in test history a match has been decided by that margin.

Neil Wagner, who suffered a right hamstring tear and bulging disc in his back on Saturday, ruling him out of the second test, will be available to bat if required on Monday.

Sri Lanka, sitting third in the World Test Championship standings, will know they’ve got a fantastic chance for just their third away test win over New Zealand, and first since December 2006, if they can deliver with the ball on day five.

If New Zealand can hunt down their target of 285 it would be their third-highest test chase in history – reaching 317 against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2008, and 324 to beat Pakistan at Christchurch’s Lancaster Park in 1994.

This would be a record chase at Hagley with 201 the highest mark, achieved by Australia in 2016 when they won by five wickets – one of just five winning test chases at the venue.

Sri Lanka’s second innings total of 302 was built around a superb 115 from Mathews.

The third leading test-run scorer in Sri Lankan test history (7115 runs), Mathews started the day on 20 getting through some tough moments, where he was under real pressure.

Needing someone to bat through a chunk of the day, Mathews drew on his vast experience, playing in his 101st test. He was composed at the crease, scoring when the ball was there to be hit, and defending anything menacing.

Mathews scored freely through the leg side, hitting 11 fours in his innings, bringing up his century with a boundary through the covers – raising his hands triumphantly and looking to the heavens.

His departure saw a flurry of wickets in the final session with the final five batters falling for 42 runs.

Matt Henry, bowling with three stitches in the webbing between his thumb and index finger on his right hand, picked up three of the wickets– also effecting a run out with his non-injured left hand, parrying the ball onto the stumps from a Williamson return in the deep.

With Wagner unable to bowl and off the field, it was hard going for the New Zealand seamers for much of the day in the Christchurch heat –which topped 26 degrees Celsius.

The situation would have been tailor-made for Wagner on a flat batting wicket, who has thrived in the second innings throughout his long career, averaging 26.72 with the ball, compared to 28.08 in the first innings.

There could be another twist in the tale with the MetService forecasting rain on Monday morning, clearing by the afternoon.

The second new ball was always going to be pivotal for New Zealand with Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal set at the crease.

Southee delivered the key breakthrough in the third over with the shiny new Kookaburra, producing a ripper to knock over Chandimal for 42, ending a pesky 105-run fifth wicket stand.

He got one to go through the gap between bat and pad with a fuller, straighter delivery.

New Zealand needed to go bang-bang with the new ball to work their way into Sri Lanka’s lower order, but Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva caused further frustration.

Stuff NZ Cricket
 
Day 5: Start delayed due to rain - New Zealand need 257 runs

SL 355 & 302
NZ 373 & 28/1 (17) CRR: 1.65

Early lunch was taken at 12:30pm local
 
Match delayed by rain.

If it is a draw, Australia and India are through to WTC final officially.
 
Game on. If this two stays for another 10 overs , NZ will win. What a counter attack from williamson and mitchel
 
Day 5: 2nd Session - New Zealand need 53 runs

SL 355 & 302
NZ 373 & 232/4 (62) CRR: 3.74
 
I love these mini t20 scenarios with the red ball. Beauty of tests
 
NZ were involved in a similarly close test match against Pakistan.
 
Williamson hits an important boundary, only 1 needed now.
 
scores are level... India qualify. Lot of Pakistanis in online forums were wishing for SL victory... as a "neutral fan:,, lol..
 
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