NZ vs PNG Ball by Ball Commentary

The Kiwis have won this by 7 wickets. On a length in middle, Daryl Mitchell lofts this over mid on and takes two to win this game. The fielder tried his best to take this but the ball kept travelling away from him and landed inches inside the fence towards long on.

On a length around off, Daryl Mitchell tucks this towards square leg for no run.

On a length around the pads, Daryl Mitchell flicks this towards fine leg region for a single.

FOUR! DISPATCHED! Good length outside off, Daryl Mitchell walks down the track and lofts this over cover for a boundary more. New Zealand needs just 3 more runs to win this.

FOUR! The finishing line is in sight of the Kiwis now. Pitched up down the leg, Daryl Mitchell glances this wide of the keeper to his left for a boundary towards the fine leg region.

Back of a length in middle, Kane Williamson slaps this towards deep square for one. The ball kept low and Kane Williamson did well to get it away.

Good length in the line of stumps, Daryl Mitchell flicks this away for one.

FOUR! Brilliantly picked up for four. Touch fuller on the pads, Daryl Mitchell picks it up and flicks this couple of bounces over the fence towards the deep mid-wicket region. Runs have started to come for the Kiwis now.

On a length around off, Daryl Mitchell nearly chops this back onto the stumps. The ball just lands behind the off stumps and they run a single as the ball rolls to the keeper's left.

Good length outside off, Kane Williamson drills this through cover-point for one.

FOUR! Short-pitched around off, Kane Williamson swivels and pulls this flat through square leg for four.

A bit of awkward bounce on this one. Back of a length around off, Kane Williamson drops his guard and jams it down with a bit of his glove behind this.

Good length outside off, Kane Williamson dabs this towards the off side for no run.

On a length in the line of stumps, keeps low. Kane Williamson does well to block this out.

Back of a length sliding down the leg, Daryl Mitchell gently helps this towards deep fine leg and scampers back for two.

On a length around off, Daryl Mitchell defends this well.

Bumper outside off, Daryl Mitchell goes for the pull and misses.

Good length around off, Daryl Mitchell defends this off the front foot.

OUT! PLUMB! Good length angling into the batter on middle and leg. Devon Conway looks to play this late and run this fine towards the deep third region but misses. The ball sneaks past the bat and clatters onto the back pad. The umpire wastes no time and gives him his marching orders. Devon Conway asks for a review but all reds on the Ball Tracker confirm the on-field decision.

On a length drifting down the leg, Kane Williamson nudges this all along the ground towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Clean strike from Devon Conway! Pitched up right in the slot and on the stumps, Conway frees his arms and hits through the line of the ball, dispatching it over the long on fence for a biggie. 14 off that over!

Nagging length around off stump, Devon Conway tries to stay back and play it late but is beaten past the outside edge.

Pitched up very full and around the off stump, Kane Williamson leans ahead and strokes it nicely through the cover region. Norman Vanua from mid off runs after it and pulls the back in to save a run for his side.

Slightly shorter and angling in from outside off, Devon Conway goes on the back foot and opens the bat face playing it down to deep third for a run.

FOUR! Driven well! A bit too full and in the slot around off, Devon Conway drills it back past the bowler and to the left of mid off for a cracking boundary.

Full and wide of the off stump, Devon Conway squeezes it on the full but finds the man at backward point.

Bowled on the shorter side and over off stump, Kane Williamson gets across a bit and drops it with soft hands into the leg side.

FOUR! Pitched up full and outside off stump, Kane Williamson transfers his weight forward and drives it gloriously through covers and in front of the man at sweeper cover. The fielder dives across but fumbles and the ball goes into the fence. The fielder seems to be in some pain as well but hopefully, he is fine.

Fuller again and on the pads, tucked away towards deep square leg for a single by Conway.

On the fuller side and around off, Devon Conway reaches out to drive but miscues it badly to the right of the bowler.

Nagging length onto off and middle, staying low again, Devon Conway manages to block it out from the crease.

Bowled full and straight at the stumps, Devon Conway flicks it well but can't get it past the man at mid-wicket.

Flatter delivery, bowled on middle and leg, Devon Conway backs away and cuts it through the point region to make it five singles in the over.

Drops the length back a bit and turning away, this one bounces a bit extra as well, Kane Williamson goes on the back foot and taps it away in front of point for a single.

Flighted delivery, bowled full and around off, Devon Conway drives this one square on the off side but for just another single.

Too full, in fact, a low full toss that dips on middle and leg, Kane Williamson leans ahead and knocks it down to long on for a run.

Tossed up again and around off stump, Devon Conway drives it away through the gap at covers and picks up another single.

Tossed up on the off stump line, Devon Conway eases it towards cover.

Another dot to end the Powerplay, and New Zealand are 29/2! On a good length and on a tighter line around the off stump, Kane Williamson takes his hands back past the body and leaves it for the keeper.

On a good length outside off and slanting it away again but this one stays low, Kane Williamson looks for the cut but cannot get it away.

Shortens the length and bowls it over the stumps, Devon Conway dabs it away on the off side and scampers across for a quick single.

SIX! One hand off the handle but no problem! On a good length around middle, Devon Conway skips down the track and goes through with the lofted shot, hitting it with a straight bat and the ball travels over long on for a biggie.

A bit fuller and in the channel around off, Kane Williamson looks to block with soft hands but gets an outside edge that rolls to deep third for a single.

Drags the length short and slants the ball well wide of the off stump, Kane Williamson goes chasing after it but toe-ends it in front of covers.

Four dots on the trot to end up a fine over from Kabua Morea. Back of a length and around off stump, Devon Conway blocks it off the back foot.

Bowled back of a length and over the stumps, Devon Conway stays back and watchfully defends it just to the off side.

Pitches the ball up again at that nagging gentle pace and bowls it a lot straighter now. Devon Conway looks to get on the front foot and drives it uppishly towards mid on.

Floats it up a bit and bowls it full and wide of the off stump, Devon Conway waits on it and drives it straight to extra cover.

Pitched up around leg stump and angling back in, Kane Williamson looks to nudge it away but misses and the ball goes off the pads down to fine leg for a leg bye. This is given as runs though so maybe there was some inside edge.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kabua Morea comes back into the attack and picks up a big wicket right away. Morea comes from over the stumps and angles in a fuller delivery into the pads. Rachin Ravindra comes down the pitch and lifts the back leg, looking to loft the ball over deep mid-wicket but doesn't get the timing at all. The ball goes to mid-wicket and Semo Kamea comes in from the deep to hang on to the catch with both hands. A shaky start from New Zealand so far.

On a fuller length and at the stumps, Devon Conway opts to block it off the front foot.

Pitched up on the stumps, slower too, Devon Conway looks to come forward and drive it away but gets it off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket.

Good length over middle, Rachin Ravindra plays it with a straight bat and just pushes it gently to the left of mid off for a single.

Slightly shorter and angled across the left-hander, Devon Conway goes hard at it and slashes it away wide of deep third for a single.

SIX! Picked up and dispatched! A gentle half volley on the pads, Devon Conway walks down the pitch and flicks it on the full with stellar timing, and gets the ball over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Good length at the pads, flicked away towards mid-wicket for a quick single by Rachin Ravindra.

Full and at the stumps, jammed down towards mid on for a quick single.

On a length and around off stump, Devon Conway stays in his crease and punches it away through covers for one.

Quicker and flatter around off, Devon Conway goes on the back foot and jams it out on the offside.

Oh, that went past everything. Tossed up on a good length on off and angling in, Rachin Ravindra tries to play it off the back foot but is beaten by the extra bounce and so is the keeper. They get a bye as the ball rolls towards short fine leg.

A bit fuller and angled into the legs, Devon Conway wrists the ball away in front of square leg for one more.

Bowled shorter and angled in from around off stump, Rachin Ravindra rocks back and punches it away through covers for one.

Nicely bowled! Short of a good length around the top of off stump and bouncing a bit extra, Devon Conway does well to fend it away.

Banged in a bit and over the stumps, Devon Conway looks to bend his back and pull it away but mistimes it badly off the inner half of the bat.

FOUR! Just a bit too wide for the keeper and it runs away to the fence as well. Good length on middle and leg, the seam wobbles away after pitching, and Devon Conway is caught a bit on the crease. Conway doesn't quite pull out of the late dab and the ball goes off the higher part of the bat and past the keeper into the deep third fence.

Good length on off and middle, slanting away, Devon Conway stays put and punches it away in front of mid off.

Banged in shorter and angled well outside off, Devon Conway looks to slap it away but gets an under edge back to the keeper.

Pitched up on the off stump line, Rachin Ravindra gets on the front foot and punches it on the up wide of mid off for a single. Good fielding there as well.

Rachin Ravindra and New Zealand are finally off the mark but with a streaky shot. Pitched up around off stump and going away, Rachin steps out to flick but miscues it off the inside edge past backward square leg for a run.

Short of a length and outside the off stump, Rachin Ravindra looks to stay upright and play it away through covers but jams it down on the off side.

Another good delivery! Nagging length, attacking the middle stump, Rachin Ravindra looks to block but gets a bit of a leading edge down to backward point.

Nice and full, seaming away from the off stump line, Rachin Ravindra pushes it out towards point.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! What a start from Kabua Morea! The umpires do go upstairs to check whether it carried or not. This is bowled on a good length and outside off stump, staying a bit low as well. Finn Allen doesn't move his feet and just throws his hands at it and ends up getting a cue end that goes down in front of the keeper. Kipling Doriga pouches it safely and the replays show that the ball did carry. Allen departs for a duck and Papua New Guinea will be very happy with that.

On the money right away! Pitched up on middle and angling back in, Finn Allen offers a good old-fashioned defence off the front foot.