NZ vs SL Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! CAUGHT! There goes the final wicket. This one is bowled full and outside off, much slower through the air, from the back of the hand. Binura Fernando looks to loft it over cover, off the front foot but goes through his shot early. It takes the outer half of the bat and loops up towards short third man where Jacob Duffy moves smartly towards his right to complete that catch in the end. Sri Lanka are all out for 141. New Zealand win by 45 runs to seal the series.

Goes fuller again, but outside off, Nuwan Thushara dabs it to point and wants to take a quick single but is sent back by his partner.

Thushara negotiates the hat-trick ball safely! Goes full around off, angling in, Nuwan Thushara comes forward and defends it to mid off from the front foot.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Mitchell Hay takes a good catch there! Back-to-back wickets for Henry and he will be on a hat-trick on the next ball! Good length, just outside off, from over the stumps, shaping away, Matheesha Pathirana goes to defend it with the full face of the bat. He only manages to get an outside edge that goes behind where the keeper Mitchell Hay dives low to his right to take the catch. Sri Lanka are nine down.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one falls. Bowled full and way wide outside off, almost on the tramline. Avishka Fernando makes room and slices this one uppishly towards Tim Robinson, stationed at deep backward point boundary who just moves a couple of steps towards the right to complete that catch. The last recognised batter for Sri Lanka, Avishka Fernando departs.

Full and on the off stump. Binura Fernando drives it towards cover.

Starts off with a slower one, way outside off. Binura Fernando tries to reach it with his outstretched hands, to cut but is unable to in the end. The ball dies down on its way to the keeper.

Much fuller, around middle and leg, Binura Fernando goes for a flick but gets through the inner half of the blade to deep mid-wicket for a single to end the over.

A low full toss, around middle, dipping in, Avishka Fernando digs it out with the toe end of the bat to long on for a single.

On a good length, around off, slower in pace, Binura Fernando dabs it wide of point for a single to get off the strike.

WIDE! Full but down the leg, angling in, Binura Fernando tries to flick it but misses it as the ball sails through to the keeper.

OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP! Another one in the over for Jacob Duffy. Opts to bowl an off-cutter again, into the pitch, much fuller. Maheesh Theekshana lines himself up to launch it over the long off fence but only manages to sky this one up towards Mitchell Santner who readies himself near the long off fence and completes a regulation catch.

Banged in short, over off, Theekshana goes for the pull but misses.

OUT! BOWLED! Dragged on! Jacob Duffy gets a wicket on the first ball again. This one is bowled back of a length, into the wicket, an off-cutter as it comes off the pitch. Wanindu Hasaranga opens up, looks to make room and tries to cut it towards backward point, but instead chops it back onto the base of the middle stump. Sri Lanka continue to fall away in the chase.

Bowled much slower through the air, grips and turns away. Avishka Fernando tries to reach it with his outstretched hands but misses.

WOW! WHAT AN EFFORT BY PHILLIPS! Santner gives flight to the full ball, around middle, turning away, from around the stumps. Wanindu Hasaranga goes on his knees to slog out this to the deep mid-wicket fence where Phillips is stationed. He catches the ball first and then releases the ball as he goes over the ropes. Then comes back in and throws the ball to the non-striker's end and keeps the batters down to just a single.

OUT! CAUGHT AT DEEP SQUARE LEG! Santner gets the better of his counterpart! Mitchell Santner gives the air to the full ball, around middle, from over the wicket, turning in. Charith Asalanka goes on his knee to slog it away but doesn't make a good connection. The ball goes straight to Mark Chapman who takes it with both hands at deep square leg comfortably. Sri Lanka are 135/5, needing 52 runs in 20 balls

Goes short again, outside off. Goes on with the arm. Avishka Fernando flat bats it towards deep point for a single.

Flatter, quicker outside off, skids through. Charith Asalanka goes on the back foot and punches it towards cover-point for a single.

Full and outside off, gripping and turning away. Avishka Fernando rocks back, makes room and cuts it towards point for a single.

Slower, full and around leg, angling in, from over the stumps, Avishka Fernando chips it in the air towards the vacant mid on region for a single to end the over.

Leg bye! A bouncer at the batter, Charith Asalanka walks down the track to smack it to deep mid-wicket. Instead, he gets hit on the helmet and they take a leg bye as the ball rolls wide of cover.

A low full toss, wide outside off, from around the stumps, Charith Asalanka has to reach out to keep it to cover for no run.

DROPPED! Fuller and outside off, off-cutter. Charith Asalanka is beaten in the air as he goes for the big shot and the ball stands up tall in the night sky. Glenn Phillips runs to his right from deep mid-wicket. The long on fielder also converges but Phillips is the one who gets underneath it but fails to hold on. He does well to recover as the ball trickles towards the fence and quickly reacts to prevent the boundary. Two runs taken.

Goes full again, on the stumps. Avishka Fernando clips it off his legs towards deep square leg for a single.

OUT! The first ball of his new spell and Jacob Duffy strikes immediately. This one is bowled from wide outside of the crease, angled in. A yorker directed right on middle stump. Kusal Perera makes room and tries to slog it over the long off fence but is beaten as the ball sneaks underneath the bat and thuds onto the middle stump. Perera goes for 48 (35). Sri Lanka are now 127/4, needing 60 runs in 29 balls.

On a back of a length, at the batter, Kusal Perera nudges it past backward square leg for a single. Sri Lanka need 60 runs in 30 balls.

Wide! Slower bumper, near the tramline on off, Kusal Perera reaches out to slap it away but then withdraws his bat. Wide given by the umpire.

Low full toss, on the pads, whipped to deep square leg for a single by Asalanka.

Attacking the stumps, on a length, Kusal Perera has a swipe across the line. Gets it off the inner half of the bat towards deep backward square leg for one.

From around the wicket, fuller and on off and middle, knocked down in front of long off for a single.

FOUR! Shot and a half! Back of a length, on off, Charith Asalanka stands tall and hits it aerially with the breeze. Manages to evade the diving Michael Bracewell at deep point to his left. The ball bounces just in front of the boundary cushions.

Swing and a miss! Going across, on a length, around off, Charith Asalanka stays deep in the crease to launch it over bowler's head but misses.

Keeps it short but slows the pace down, outside off, slapped along the ground to deep cover for one. A good end to the over for New Zealand. Sri Lanka need 69 runs in 36 balls.

Flatter and shorter, at the stumps, Charith Asalanka can only punch it back to the bowler.

Nicely bowled! Loopy delivery and the length is pulled back, on off, Charith Asalanka tries to drag the sweep away but misses as the ball rips past the bat.

Leg bye! With a deep third in place, this is on a nagging length, around off, Kusal Perera reaches out in front for the sweep but the ball comes off his body and rolls away on the off side for a leg bye.

FOUR! Clever stuff! Even slower, fuller and wider on off, Kusal Perera gets into the position quickly for the reverse sweep and hits it over backward point for a boundary.

Floated up, full and on off, Kusal Perera goes for the reverse again but does not get quite get hold of it. Manages to clear the man at short third and collects a couple of runs. Two fielders give it a chase and cut it off.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for the Sri Lankan skipper! On a length, angling across, on off, Charith Asalanka gets his weight into the shot and lofts it in front of square on the off side. Hits it well away from the man at deep point to his left for four more runs. 12 runs off the over. Sri Lanka need 77 runs in 42 balls.

FOUR! Smart batting! A bumper from Henry, over off, Charith Asalanka gets on his toes and uses the pace and bounce to ramp it over the keeper for a boundary.

Slower and on a back of a length, on middle, Kusal Perera drops it down on the leg side for a single.

DROPPED! Daryl Mitchell does all the hard work but puts it down in the end! Banged into the deck, on off, on a shortish length, Kusal Perera is hurried into the pull as the ball skids off the deck. Gets a top edge that goes straight up towards the vacant mid-wicket region. Daryl Mitchell from mid on runs across to his left and gets there. Dives ahead but the ball hits his palm and goes down. Two runs taken.

Swing and a miss! Pace off again, on a nagging length, outside off, Kusal Perera swings to go across the line but misses.

Henry returns to the attack and starts with an off-pace delivery, going across, Charith Asalanka waits on it and glides it down to deep third for a single.

Slows it down and this holds in the surface, on a nagging length, on off, Kusal Perera hangs back to defend. Sri Lanka need 89 runs in 48 balls.

Slanting into the pads, on a length, Charith Asalanka works it wide of backward square leg for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! Kamindu Mendis tries the reverse but holes out! A tighter line, on middle and leg, on a nagging length, Kamindu Mendis shapes up for the reverse and fails to get the placement right. Hits it a bit too square towards deep point where the fielder had just moved a few steps to his right before this ball. Mark Chapman settles under it and takes a safe catch.

Fuller and quicker, at the stumps, Kusal Perera flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Nicely done! Slower through the air, on a nagging length, around off, Kusal Perera switches his stance and reverse sweeps it uppishly but gets it between backward point and short third for a boundary.

SIX! Innovative and Perera gets the maximum result! Flat and short, on off, Kusal Perera brings out the reverse and gets hold of it. Clears the deep third fence for a six.

Slower, fuller, on middle, Kusal Perera wrists it to deep mid-wicket for a single. A good over for Sri Lanka. 14 runs off it.

Fired in on the pads, on a length, Kamindu Mendis clips it past mid-wicket and takes a single.

FOUR! Fractionally short, on off, Kamindu Mendis stays on the back foot and cracks it up and over point for a boundary.

Darted in, short and on middle, pulled through mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Width offered and Kusal cashes in! Short and wide on off, trying to keep it away from the batter's arc. Kusal Perera is made to reach out but he still manages to hold his shape and slap it over cover for a six.

Starts off on a nagging length, on off, Kamindu Mendis pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Slower one again, outside off. Kusal Perera makes room and pushes it towards cover.

Slower one, bowled into the wicket. Kusal Perera guides it away towards point.

On a back of a length, punched off the back foot to deep point for a single by Kamindu Mendis to get off the mark.

On a good length, outside off, zips through. Kamindu Mendis gets behind the line of the ball to defend.

Beaten! Full and outside off, inviting the drive. Kamindu Mendis leans on to drive but the ball goes inches away past the outside edge.

OUT! CAUGHT! Jacob Duffy strikes gold for New Zealand on his return to the attack. This one is bowled slower through the air and on the stumps, on a back of a length, Pathum Nissanka shuffles across to scoop it over short fine leg but is not able to give enough power to it. Matt Henry moves smartly towards his right to complete a diving catch at short fine leg.

Comes around the wicket, goes fuller outside off, quicker, Pathum Nissanka sweeps it out to deep mid-wicket and takes a single.

Comes over the wicket, on a nagging length, around middle and leg, Kusal Perera keeps it to square leg from the back foot for a single.

Comes around the wicket on this one, short, outside off, turning away from the batter, Pathum Nissanka goes for a pull shot from the back foot. Instead, he mistimes it to the vacant mid on region for a single.

Comes over the wicket now, short around off, turning in, Kusal Perera pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single to get off the strike.

On a nagging length, slow in pace, turns away, Pathum Nissanka goes deep in the crease and cuts it to backward point for a single.

WIDE! Floated up outside off, turns further away beyond the tramline. WIDED!

Drops it short, from over the wicket, around off, angling in, Kusal Perera tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a single to start the over.

Full and outside off, turns away. Kusal Perera flat bats it towards point for a single.

Quicker, flatter outside off. Pathum Nissanka pulls it away towards long on. Mistimes his shot a bit in the end. A single taken.

FOUR! Short and punished! Dropped short by Bracewell, on middle, Pathum Nissanka gets down on one knee and powers it away to the left of deep square leg for a boundary.

Floated up on middle. Pathum Nissanka rocks on the front foot and looks to slog sweep it over mid-wicket but inside edges it onto the pads.

Short one outside off, skids on. Kusal Perera clips it towards mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Floated up on middle stump, goes straight on. Kusal Perera sweeps it over the short fine leg fielder and falls over in the process. It goes towards the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

SIX! UP AND OVER! Short, wide outside off, from over the wicket, turning away. Pathum Nissanka moves across and pulls it over deep backward square leg for a six.

Fullish ball outside off. Pathum Nissanka taps it towards point.

Short again, around off and middle, angling in, Kusal Perera tucks it to square leg from the back foot for a single.

OUCH! On a nagging length, around middle and leg, turning in, from over the wicket. Kusal Perera attempts a reverse scoop but misses it as extra bounce results in him getting a hit on the helmet.

Comes around the wicket, short, outside off, turning away, Pathum Nissanka pulls it from the back foot to deep mid-wicket for a single to get off the strike.

Comes from over the wicket, drops it short, outside off, turning in, Kusal Perera tries to pull it but gets a top edge to deep backward square leg. The ball falls ahead of the running fielder and they cross.

Full and slower one on the stumps. Kusal Perera nudges it through backward square leg for a single.

On a back of a length, on off, Pathum Nissanka slaps it down to mid off for a single.

NO BALL! Fullish and on the off stump. Kusal Perera clips it towards backward square leg for a single. The replays show that Zakary Foulkes has gone a touch over the line.

Full and onto the middle stump, goes straight on. Kusal Perera flicks it towards mid-wicket.

FOUR! Straying down leg. Bowled full and on the leg stump, from around the wicket. Kusal Perera just has to get his bat to it to beat the man inside the ring at short fine leg as the ball races towards the deep fine leg fence for a boundary

A yorker on middle, Pathum Nissanka digs it out towards mid off for a single.

NO BALL! Back of a length, on middle, nips in. Pathum Nissanka looks to tuck it away but inside edges it onto the thigh guard. The batters come through for a single. Foulkes has overstepped. Free Hit coming up.

Banged in short, directed towards the batter. Pathum Nissanka goes for the pull but the ball flies over him. He looks at the umpire for a wide but the umpire just signals one bouncer for the over.

Short and into the pads, nudged off the back foot to backward square leg by Perera.

Short and on off, Kusal Perera defends it from the crease.

It's all happening! Pushed through by Santner, on off, on a nagging length, Kusal Perera closes the bat face early and gets a leading edge that balloons in front of Jacob Duffy at backward point. He dives but the ball drops short of him. The ball rolls in front off his body and Pathum Nissanka wants to sneak in a single. Perera is caught ball-watching as Nissanka is halfway through the run. Duffy lobs the throw towards the batting end and the keeper Mitchell Hay has to run across to his left to collect the throw. Hay picks the ball up, turns around and fires in a throw at the bowling end but Nissanka is in by then. A decent throw at either end would have done the job for New Zealand.

Slower through the air, on a length, on middle, Pathum Nissanka reaches out in front and sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Speared in, at the pads, short in length, Kusal nudges it wide of square leg and gets off the mark.

OUT! CAUGHT! Expertly held by Daryl Mitchell! Mitchell Santner strikes with his first delivery.  Darted in from around the wicket, on a nagging length, on off, Mendis makes room to go over the in-field on the off side. Fails to get the connection right and it goes only as far as the edge of the ring. Daryl Mitchell from cover and Mark Chapman from extra cover converge. Chapman would have been in his eyesight but Mitchell does well to take it over his right shoulder while sliding.

Quick single taken! Very full, on middle and leg, Mendis firms the drive in front of mid on and sets off for the single. Daryl Mitchell swoops in and has a shy at the bowling end but misses. It would have been interesting had the throw hit.

On a good length, on the off stump, Mendis is cramped up for room and he only manages to knock it towards cover.

Wide! Banged in short but this goes over the batter's head. Mendis ducks under it.

Slower and fuller, around off, Mendis drills it along the ground to mid off.

Into the wicket, pace taken off, on middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka pulls it on the bounce to the man at deep backward square leg. They cross.

Slower one, on a back of a length, on middle, Mendis makes room and knocks it wide of mid off for one.

FOUR! Streaky but they all count! On a shortish length, not that wide for the cut. Mendis throws his hands at the delivery and gets an outside edge that flies past short third for a boundary.

FOUR! Attacking the stumps, on a length, Pathum Nissanka stays put and smears it up and over mid-wicket for a boundary. 16 runs off the over.

On a short of a length, on off, Pathum Nissanka chops it down in front of point.

In the air..but it lands safely! Length delivery, around off, Pathum Nissanka looks to get underneath this one as he tries a big shot. It gets skied but lands safely in the vacant deep sqaure leg region for a couple of runs.

Closer to the batter, on a nagging length, stabbed down on the off side.

FOUR! Up and over! Short and wide on off, there to be put away, Pathum Nissanka slaps it over backward point for a boundary.

SIX! Effortless! Full and slanting into the pads, Pathum Nissanka plants his front foot across and just whips it over deep square leg for a biggie.

Slower and into the wicket, going past the leg stump, Mendis walks across for the scoop but misses. Wide not given and Mendis is unhappy about it.

Honing in on the off stump, on a good length, Pathum Nissanka hops and steers it wide of backward point for one.

In the channel on off, on a good length, Kusal Mendis glides it down to deep backward point for one more.

Wide! Another one that is sprayed down leg, on a nagging length, Mendis fails to glance it away.

Wide! Sliding down leg, full in length, Mendis misses the tickle.

Gets a late away shape on this one, on a back of a length, Kusal Mendis swivels to get it over square leg but adjusts to the movement and stabs it down with an angled bat.

How has that missed the stumps? On a short of a good length, over off and middle, Kusal Mendis moves across to the off side to play the scoop and misses as the ball goes over the stumps.

Short and wide on off, Kusal Mendis hangs back and cuts it down to deep backward point where Zakary Foulkes sprints and dives to his right to prevent the boundary. Two runs taken.

Bangs in a sharp and quick bumper, at the right shoulder of the batter, Pathum Nissanka hurriedly ducks and lets it go. A probing first over from Henry.

Gets the yorker in now, on off, Pathum Nissanka jams it out with a straight bat back to the bowler.

Oh, that's a beauty! Angling in and then nipping away off the deck, on a good length, on the off stump line, Pathum Nissanka gets squared up in defence as the ball sneaks past the outside edge and goes over the off pole.

Pace on, on the fuller side, on off, Pathum Nissanka mistimes the drive to mid off.

Pace taken off, on a nagging length, in the channel on off, Kusal Mendis runs it down to deep third and gets off the mark with a single.

A misfield and Sri Lanka's chase is underway! On a good length, on off, Pathum Nissanka leans forward and taps it towards backward point where Glenn Phillips charges in a bit too hard and slides to make the stop. Ends up parrying it away off his body and concedes a single.