NZ vs SL Ball by Ball Commentary

That's it! SRI LANKA WIN! Binura does the job for the tourists! A gentle-paced delivery, on a shortish length, outside off, Mitchell Santner gets beaten by the pace-off delivery and mistimes his pull shot in the air. It lands in the safe zone behind mid-wicket and they cross for a single.

Good comeback from Binura! Just a single! Full and outside off, right into the blockhole. Foulkes digs it along the ground to wide of cover for a single.

SIX! GAME ON IN NELSON NOW! Binura Fernando now misses his length and serves a juicy half-volley on off, Zakary Foulkes gets the front foot out of the way and swings through very hard. Gets the middle of the bat and tonks it behind long off for a huge six.

Goes wide again, full and across off, Zakary Foulkes drives it through the gap between cover and point for a quick couple of runs. This is an excellent exhibition of death bowling from Binura. Three balls, on the money!

WIDE! Slanting it across off, beyond the tramline, Zakary Foulkes shoulders arms at it. The umpire stretches his hands and gives it a wide. 18 off 4 needed now.

Binura rolls his fingers and takes the fingers off the ball again. Goes fuller and outside off, Mitchell Santner clears his front leg to slog across but gets a thick inside edge onto the pads for a single as the ball rolls beside the pitch.

A pace off ball, very full and outside off, Mitchell Santner mistimes his heave across and slices it in the air. The ball lands in front of the deep mid-wicket fielder for a couple of runs.

Back of a length and outside off. Santner pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 22 needed off the last over now.

SIX! THAT IS HUGE! Thushara misses the yorker and ends up slipping in a low full toss, outside off, Mitchell Santner bends low, gets his bat under the ball, connects well and slashes it aerially over deep point for a six.

Darted in, full and outside off, Zakary Foulkes shuffles across off and sits down to paddle it away but misses and gets rapped on the front pad. The ball rolls in front of backward point as they cross for a leg bye.

WIDE! Short and wide, on a length. Foulkes throws kitchen-sink at it but misses to connect. Wide given.

Had to hurry there to get back home! A low wide full toss, Zakary Foulkes bends low and guides it to wide of backward point. The ball runs to the deep and the batters complete the second run.

A low full toss on the off-stump line, Zakary Foulkes gets his bat beneath the ball and lofts it over mid-wicket. It lands on a couple of bounces to the fielder in the deep. Two runs taken!

Fired in full and outside off, Santner goes across and shovels it out to long on for a single. Singles won't hurt Sri Lanka at all.

On a length outside off, Zakary Foulkes shuffles across and goes for the scoop but misses yet again.

Another swing and a miss. On a length wide of off, Zakary Foulkes moves across and goes for the ramp but misses on the inside.

Wide yorker outside off, Zakary Foulkes leaves it.

WIDE! Too full and wide outside off, Zakary Foulkes shoulders arms it. Wided.

On a length outside off, Zakary Foulkes swings but misses.

FOUR! A boundary to keep the Kiwi hopes alive. Short-pitched, on off, Zakary Foulkes pulls this flat and into the gap towards deep mid-wicket for four. The equation now comes down to 37 off 16 balls.

Short-pitched, on leg, Mitchell Santner flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Full and wide outside off, Zakary Foulkes opens the face of his bat and slices this towards the fence at deep third for a boundary. Much-needed one for New Zealand.

Full toss on off, Mitchell Santner smashes this to long off for one.

Yorker, outside off, Mitchell Santner swings but misses.

LEG BYE! Full toss outside off, Zakary Foulkes moves across and looks to flick but misses. The ball deflects off his pads towards leg and the batters take one. Leg Bye signaled.

WIDE! Full and way to wide outside off, Zakary Foulkes leaves it. Wided.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND CHAMINDU WICKRAMASINGHE HOLDS ON! Too full, shaping away from the batter on off. Daryl Mitchell looks to slog this across the line but does not get his bat properly underneath the bat. Hence, gets no proper timing on it and a leading edge travels straight over the bowler and towards Chamindu Wickramasinghe at long off for a regulation catch to his right. A massive dent to the Kiwis' hope of chasing this down as they are reduced to 170/7 now, needing 49 more to win 22 balls remaining.

Full and wide outside off, Daryl Mitchell swings and misses.

Tossed up on middle and leg, Mitchell Santner defends this one. A sensational over lives up to the topsy-turvy nature of this contest.

OUT! FLAT IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! A screamer of a catch from Charith Asalanka! You just cannot keep Asalanka out of action. This is a tossed-up delivery, drifting around off, Michael Bracewell goes for the cover drive, and smacks it too hard, but ends up hitting this a bit uppish and flat straight towards Charith Asalanka. The fielder dives towards his left and grabs this just above the grass. New Zealand have now slipped from 168/4 to 170/6.

Short and wide outside off, Daryl Mitchell cuts this towards deep third for a single this time.

Short and wide outside off, Daryl Mitchell cuts this to backward point for no run.

Tossed up on the pads, Michael Bracewell flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for one.

OUT! TIMBER! Hasaranga strikes and breaks the 39-run stand for the fifth wicket. Hasaranga dishes out a wrong'un, and tosses it up, right into the stumps, Mitchell Hay jumps down the track and looks to slog this one across the line of the ball. It beats the bat of Hay and it goes on to clatter the stumps. Michael Bracewell walks out as the next batter.

Darted it wide but a bit slower, angling across the batter. Daryl Mitchell swings and misses.

SIX! Four consecutive sixes and this will take all the pressure off the Kiwis and the visitors will feel a lot more of it. Too full, outside off, Daryl Mitchell extends his arms and smashes this high in the air and once again behind the sight screen for yet another gigantic six.

SIX! Third six on a trot and all the good work from Charith Asalanka goes in vain. Tossed up around off, Daryl Mitchell moves across and slogs this up and over the deep mid-wicket fielder yet again for another huge six.

SIX! Another big hit nd this time it is smashed towards deep mid-wicket. Short of a length around off, Daryl Mitchell rocks back, clears his front leg and pulls this way behind the fence towards deep mid-wicket for six more.

SIX! Here comes the Mitchell special. Tossed up, in the slot for Daryl Mitchell. The Kiwi batter presents a full face of his bat and lofts this as straight as it could get for a biggie right behind the sight screen.

Darted around off, Mitchell Hay drills this to long on for one.

A single to end the over and 7 off this Wanindu Hasaranga over means back-to-back good overs for Sri Lanka.

Tossed up on the pads, Mitchell Hays sweeps this towards deep backwards square for a couple.

Fuller outside off this time, Daryl Mitchell with no timing at all, lofts this over the bowler and towards long off for one more.

Too full, on leg again. Mitchell Hay flicks this towards wide long on for a single here.

Tossed up on leg, Daryl Mitchell jumps down the track and flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Fuller on middle and off, Mitchell Hay sweeps this towards deep square for one.

Too full on the pads, Mitchell Hay tucks this off his back foot for a single towards deep on leg.

Quicker and flatter on off, Daryl Mitchell punches this towards sweeper cover for one.

FOUR! Daryl Mitchell picks up from where Rachin had left. Short and on off, Daryl Mitchell uses the depth of the crease, goes deep and pulls this into the gap towards cow corner for four.

Short and wide outside off, Mitchell Hay goes deep inside his crease and nudges this towards leg for one.

OUT! TIMBER! Charith Asalanka has turned the tide in his side's favor with this dismissal of Rachin Ravindra. Arm-delivery, angling into the batter. Rachin Ravindra looks to play this off his back foot but he would have been better off playing this off the front foot here. The ball skids through the gates, between bat and pad and disturbs the timber. A brilliant knock of 69 comes to and end from Rachin Ravindra. New Zealand are 129/4 now.

Short and angling away from off, Daryl Mitchell rocks back and smashes that to deep mid-wicket for one.

Touch fuller but quicker again, Rachin Ravindra cuts this to deep point for a couple.

FOUR! Nicely carved away for four. Too quick and flat on off, Rachin Ravindra stays deep inside his crease and cuts this beyond point for a boundary.

Short and on off, Daryl Mitchell rocks back and punches this to sweeper cover for one.

Too full, outside off, Daryl Mitchell brings out the reverse sweep but fails to get bat at it.

Fuller on the pads, Rachin Ravindra sweeps this towards deep square for one.

SIX! The mainstream spinners are being wrecked by Rachin Ravindra. Quicker, on the pads, Rachin Ravindra sweeps this and gets plenty behind it for the ball to sail over the keeper and the fence for a huge six.

Short and wide of off, Rachin Ravindra punches this to sweeper cover for a single to close another successful over from Charith Asalanka.

Too full, on off, Rachin Ravindra drills this powerfully back to the bowler.

Floated on the pads, Daryl Mitchell rocks back and tucks this through mid-wicket for a single.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT EASILY! How often have we seen a break in play, resulting in the fall of a wicket. Another scalp for Charith Asalanka and he continues to create impact with the ball. The ploy to bowl away from the hitting arc of Glenn has worked for the visitors. Smidge full in length, and angling away on off, Glenn Phillips backs away to create some room for himself and expands his arms to reach at it, goes with the bat swing and doesn't try to keep it along the ground. He airs it, gets no timing and distance on it and goes only as far as Pathum Nissanka in the deep for a simple catch.

Short of a length angling into the stumps, Rachin Ravindra moves awya and pulls this flat towards deep mid-wicket for one.

WIDE! Angling away down the leg, Rachin Ravindra looks to sweep but misses. Kusal Mendis collects this behind the stumps and shows some excitement but after a discussion with Charith Asalanka they decide not to go upstairs. Wided.

Full and going away with the arm, Glenn Phillips smashes this towards deep point for one.

WIDE! Comes round the wicket and darts one way outside off. Glenn Phillips shoulders arms it. Wided.

Full and tossed up on the leg stump line, with a good bit of loop on it. Phillips clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Halfway into the chase and New Zealand are 108/2.

Had to hustle there, but no harm done! On a tight line and length from Wanindu Hasaranga now. Full and on middle and leg, cramping the batter for room. Glenn Phillips goes back and across and works it down to long on for a couple of runs.

Pitched fuller and tossed up, on off, Ravindra leans on and drives it inside-out to wide of long off for a single.

Flat, and full on middle, Phillips drills it down to long on or a single.

Short of a length on off, Rachin Ravindra punches this away off his back foot for a single.

SIX! FIFTY FOR RACHIN RAVINDRA! His 2nd in T20Is and a fine way to bring it up! A wrong'un from Wanindu Hasaranga, full, flat and outside off, Rachin Ravindra sits down on his knee and slogs it behind deep mid-wicket for a huge six. That has gone outta here! The 100 also comes up for New Zealand with this massive hit!

Pitched right up, fuller and pushed through at the pads. Ravindra flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full and outside off. Phillips knocks it down to long off for a single.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! As soon as he hit it, Chapman knew that he was in trouble and New Zealand have lost two wickets now! Charith Asalanka and the Sri Lankans are all pumped up as they get two wickets in quick intervals. A quicker one from Asalanka, on middle and full in length, with a bit of an in-drift on it. Mark Chapman dances down the track and looks to hit it across and aerially behind deep mid-wicket. But he ends up playing it a bit too close to the body and hence, doesn't get the requisite distance and height on that one. It goes flat and right into the hands of Pathum Nissanka stationed at deep mid-wicket.

An arm ball, angling into the batter from middle. It stays low and skids through quickly. Mark Chapman creates room for himself and tries to cut but it goes off the inside edge to the deep fine for a couple of more runs.

SIX! IT HAS GONE A LONG, LONG WAY! Asalanka drops a fuller length ball, right in front of the middle stump. Mark Chapman charges down to the pitch of the ball and tonks it behind long on for a massive six.

Charith Asalanka is into the attack now. Darts it in, full and drifting on middle and leg, Rachin Ravindra backs away to pull but gets a thick inside edge which runs to deep backward square leg for a single.

Full and angling into the middle stump. Ravindra knocks it with his wrists to long on for a single. New Zealand need 134 runs in 72 balls.

Good piece of running between the wickets by the two! On a good length, on middle and leg, Rachin Ravindra tucks it across to wide of mid-wicket. Runs the first one hard and scampers back for the second one quickly.

Smidge full in length and just outside off. Chapman works it to backward point for a single.

Fuller length around off. Chapman taps it back to the bowler.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Finally, Sri Lanka get a breakthrough as Tim Robinson departs on 37 off 21. Binura Fernando bowls it well outside off and varies his pace. It is a slower one, across off on a fullish length. Tim Robinson strides ahead and goes through the lofted cover drive and is a bit too early to go through the shot. Does not get his bat properly under it and ends up slicing it over backward point. The ball sails right under the throat of the fielder in the deep. Kamindu Mendis, the substitute fielder takes a comfortable catch. A quickfire knock from the right-hander comes to an end.

Full toss outside off. Ravindra pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A slider, on middle and off on a length, Ravindra rocks back and drags the pull towards wide of long on for a single.

A googly, on a length, on off, Tim Robinson hangs back and cuts it to deep point for a single.

DROPPED AGAIN! Wanindu Hasaranga making things happen with his arrival! Sliding it outside off on a length, Ravindra makes room and cuts this square but in the air. Bhanuka Rajapaksa makes good ground to his left at point but just can't hold on. A single taken.

A deceptive wrong'un, flat and outside off, Rachin Ravindra gets beaten by the googly and plays inside the line to drive through covers. Gets a sharp outside edge that runs to deep third for two more runs.

SIX! A great attempt on the boundary but dropped in the end! Dragged-length delivery on the stumps. Ravindra rocks back and pulls it over deep mid-wicket. The fielder at the ropes, jumps and tries to flick it back in play but fails and just lands on the boundary cushions with the ball in hand. SIX! But a valiant effort.

SIX! Wanindu Hasaranga is greeted with a huge six! Drops it full with a fair bit of flight on it. Lands it on middle and full in length, Rachin Ravindra gets the ball into his arc, and slogs it hard behind deep mid-wicket for a six.

Floated up, full and on off, Rachin Ravindra drives it inside-out to cover-point for a single. End of the mandatory Powerplay and New Zealand are 63/0, needing 156 more runs to win from 84 balls remaining.

Length ball on the pads. Robinson whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Very full, on middle and leg, Rachin Ravindra drills it down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Cracked away with timing!  This one goes on with the arm, on a length and outside off. Ravindra backs away and cuts it to sweeper cover for a boundary.

An appeal for LBW, but not given! Theekshana from around the wickets, bowls a flatter one, on middle and leg, and full in length, with a bit of an in-drift on it. Rachin Ravindra sits down to sweep but misses and wears it onto the pads. Oh, that must have been close. But the umpire believes that it might be going down leg. Sri Lanka do not opt for a review.

A slower one, full and at the stumps. Robinson pushes it to wide long on for a single.

WIDE! Length ball down the leg. Robinson gets inside the line and misses the flick to the keeper. Wide called.

FOUR! Nicely played! Pitched right up, full and wide outside off. Ravindra squeezes it out. The ball bumps on the ground off the bat and goes flat above the leaping backward point fielder for a boundary.

IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! But, since it was a Free Hit, that catch won't be valid! Full in length, on middle and leg, Rachin Ravindra picks it up and but mistimes it badly. It goes straight down the throat of the deep mid-wicket fielder and the batters run a couple.

Speared in, full in length, and shaping into the leg stump. Ravindra misses the flick on the inside edge. The ball rolls off his pads to point. Uh, oh! Nuwan Thushara has overstepped and the umpire calls it a NO BALL! FREE HIT TO FOLLOW NOW!

Hurls it full and on leg stump, Tim Robinson looks to clear his front foot and whip this onside. Ends up as the leading edge that pops up over extra cover for a single.

Another ripper of a yorker, this time, much more closer to the off-pole, it goes in and out with the movement on off, Tim Robinson backs away to stay leg side to squeeze it out, misses to the keeper.

Darts in a pinpoint yorker with a little bit of shape too, outside off. Tim Robinson is late to bring his bat down and jam it in time.

Full and at the leg stump. Ravindra brings his bat down in time and jams it out to mid off for a single.

Onto the pads, on a fullish length, Rachin Ravindra works it across to deep mid-wicket for a single to end the over.

Nice and full, on off, pushed away to mid off.

FOUR! Whipped away! Shade short and on middle, Rachin Ravindra prods half-forward and then transfers his weight on the back foot, before pulling it to deep square leg for a boundary on a couple of bounces.

Back of a length, on the pads, tucked away to deep mid-wicket for a six by Theekshana.

FOUR! Plays it too fine! Drifts it in with an extra pace, on the pads and on a length, Tim Robinson hangs back, uses the pace of the ball and simply tickles it past deep fine for a boundary.

Fired in at the pads, on a length, Rachin Ravindra misses to flick and the ball deflects off the front pad to short fine. They cross for a leg bye.

Length-delivery, on top of off, Tim Robinson mistmes the pull shot in the air. It lands just behind the chasing mid off fielder where Chamindu Wickramasinghe does well to prevent the boundary. Two taken.

SIX! Swung away neatly! This is brilliant batting from Robinson! A tinge of an inswinger, on the leg stump line, Tim Robinson uses the pace of the ball and wrists the flick over deep backward square leg for a six.

IN THE AIR...lands safe! Slower in pace again, on off, Tim Robinson is a bit early into the shot and lofts it over mid off for a couple of runs. The ball lands and is chased by the fielder from the inner ring.

Excellent running! Slower one, on top of off on a length, Tim Robinson hops on the back foot and cuts it through backward point and cover for a couple.

SIX! The first of the chase and it comes off Robinson's bat! A shot of real authority that! A half-volley from Bunura, on leg, Tim Robinson with a bit of a shuffle outside leg, creates room for himself. Meets the middle of the bat and swings hard and across for a six behind deep mid-wicket.

Binura Fernando starts off from over the stumps and slants it across off, on a good length, Tim Robinson knocks it off the back foot to cover-point.

Spears it in, full and angling back into the batter. Rachin Ravindra tries to flick it across but the ball thumps his front boot on the way to the short third region.

Full and swinging into the left-hander from leg stump. Ravindra misses the flick on the inside edge and wears it on the pads. An appeal for LBW but the umpire turns it down.

A slower one, fuller and at 117.3 kph, on off, Tim Robinson waits for it and spanks it to the gap between mid off and covers for a brace. The fielder from mid off chases the ball to the deep and puts in a slide as well. Flicks the ball towards the other converging fielder who fails to collect the ball cleanly as it rolls towards the cover-point fielder. Three runs taken.

Fuller in length, just outside off, Rachin Ravindra gets forward and drives it straight to long off for a single.

Fires it in, full and tailing back in on middle and leg, Rachin flicks it straight to mid-wicket.

Begins from over the stumps and attacks the pegs, on a fullish length, Tim Robinson stays in his crease with a slight trigger movement on the front foot. Knocks it to wide of mid off for a quick single.

A single to end the first over! Back of a length, over top of off, Tim Robinson charges down the track to negate the swing and drives it through cover and mid off for a single. A good positive start for the Kiwis. 11 runs from the opening over.

A low full toss, tailing into the batter around off, Rachin Ravindra slaps it to wide of cover for a single.

FOUR! Rachin Ravindra too, opens his account with a boundary! What a glorious stroke! Pitched up, full and outside off, Rachin Ravindra strides across, waits for it. extends his arms, and lofts it over the point fielder for a cracking boundary.

Hard length, nipping back in sharply, on off, Tim Robinson plays over the line and gets a thick inside edge to the front pad. The ball trickles near the pitch as they cross quickly.

FOUR! New Zealand and Tim Robinson are up and running in the chase! Intent up front from the youngster! A bit of an away swing, full and around off, Tim Robinson taps his front foot out and slaps it wide of mid off for a cracking boundary.

Chamindu with a slip and a leg gully in place, begins from over the stumps. Gets a good bit of shape away, on off, Tim Robinson stays leg side of the ball and knocks it with soft hands into the off side.