SL vs NZ Ball by Ball Commentary

SIX! BANG! Clean strike from Wellalage to finish things off! Duffy bowls the slower one and bashes it into the wicket, on off and middle. This sits up nicely for Wellalage who waits for the ball to arrive and smokes it over deep mid-wicket. Clears the fence with ease for a biggie. Sri Lanka win by 4 wickets with an over to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the series!

Back to banging into the deck and at pace, on off, Dunith Wellalage backs away to slap it away on the off side but gets beaten due to the lift off the deck.

FOUR! Gets it through and that should do it for Sri Lanka! Duffy slants it in but offers pace this time and this is a bit too full as well. Dunith Wellalage gets underneath it and drills it in the gap between cover and mid off for a boundary. Just 2 runs needed now.

Two dots in a row! Duffy rolls his fingers over the ball and bowls it a bit fuller, on off, Dunith Wellalage is done in by the slowness of the delivery as he looks to play at it. Gets beaten all ends up and the ball goes on the bounce to the keeper.

This is on a back of a length, on off, Dunith Wellalage backs away and tries to carve it away on the off side but gets beaten for pace.

Angled in, on a length, on off, Charith Asalanka gets close to the line of the ball as he shuffles across and swings for the hills. Gets an outside edge that goes down to deep third. Ish Sodhi gets around to his right and cuts it off. They cross.

Foulkes goes short, at the helmet of the batter, Dunith Wellalage ducks and lets it go.

On a fullish length, on middle and leg, Charith Asalanka flicks it through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Dug in short but it is the slower one, on off and middle, Charith Asalanka gets on top of the bounce and pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a couple of runs.

Another off-pace delivery, on a nagging length, on middle and leg, Dunith Wellalage nudges it in front of mid-wicket and takes the single. Wellalage opens his account with the bat in T20I cricket.

OUT! CAUGHT! The slower ball does the trick for Foulkes! Takes all the pace off as he serves it at 105 kph and the length is pulled back as well, on a nagging length, Wanindu Hasaranga creates a base for himself to muscle it across the line but gets deceived by the lack of pace on the delivery. Spoons it in the air towards mid-wicket where Mitchell Santner turns around and takes it over his left shoulder. Sri Lanka lose their 6th wicket, needing 11 runs in 16 balls. Is there still life in it for New Zealand?

FOUR! A gift and Wanindu Hasaranga accepts it gleefully! Foulkes tries to get the yorker in but ends up serving a low full toss, on off, Wanindu Hasaranga stays leg side of the ball and opens the bat face to slice it wide of backward point for a boundary.

Beaten! From wide of the crease on the around-the-wicket angle, on a hard length, outside off, Charith Asalanka sees the width on offer and throws his hands at the delivery. The extra bounce results in the ball going over the bat. Sri Lanka need 15 runs in 18 balls.

Angled into the right-hander, very full, on middle and leg, Wanindu Hasaranga crouches and knocks it down to long off for one more. Both batters are happy to do it in ones and twos.

Pace taken off by Duffy and it is on a length, on off, Charith Asalanka waits for the ball to arrive and just dabs it wide of point for another single.

At 135 kph, banged into the deck by Duffy, on off and middle, Wanindu Hasaranga does not quite get hold of it as he looks to slap it down the ground. Hits it on the bounce to long on for a single.

Gets a good lift off the deck on the bumper does Duffy, around the right shoulder of the batter, Wanindu Hasaranga sways out of the line of the ball and lets it go.

Quick single taken! Duffy steams in from around the wicket and digs it in short, on off, Charith Asalanka rises with the bounce and drops it with soft hands in front of cover and sets off for the run. Mitchell Santner swoops in and tries to release an underarm throw while diving ahead but fails to pick the ball cleanly, allowing Hasaranga to make his ground at the batting end.

Floated up, fuller and slower, on off, Wanindu Hasaranga gets on the front foot and eases it back to the bowler. 9 runs off the over without taking any risk. Sri Lanka need 19 runs in 24 balls.

Dropped short again by Santner from around the wicket, on off, Wanindu Hasaranga leans back and slaps it past the diving cover fielder. Calls for two immediately and makes it as the throw from the wide long off fielder comes in. Good running.

A bit too straight from Santner, on the pads, on a nagging length, Charith Asalanka gets inside the line of the ball and nurdles it through square leg for one.

Turning away a touch, short and on off, Hasaranga makes room and pushes it wide of cover for a single.

Edged away! This does not turn and goes straight on, short and on off, Asalanka plays for the turn as he gets on his toes. Gets his bat out in front to work it with the turn but there is no turn on offer. The outside edge is found and it races past short third. Duffy gives it a chase and puts a slide in. He does well to flick the ball back in before he makes contact with the boundary cushions. Saves a run for his side.

Pushed through, short and on middle, Charith Asalanka hurriedly gets on the back foot for the pull. Gets it off the inner half of the bat and beats the diving Ish Sodhi at short fine leg for a couple of runs.

That is poor cricket all around! Michael Bracewell tosses the ball up around off, Charith Asalanka pushes it out wide of point looking for one but both batters hesitate in the middle. Glenn Phillips moves to his weaker left side and opts to throw it at the keeper's end but his throw is well wide and they make it through for a single.

Fractionally short and outside off, Hasaranga backs away and pats the ball away in front of square on the off side for a single.

Pushed through this one, on length, drifting in, turns in just that slight bit into the batter. Hasaranga rocks back and tucks it towards mid wicket.

Darted in on off, Hasaranga rocks back and pushes it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Easy pickings that for Hasaranga! Well short and outside off, Hasaranga waits back and opens the face of the blade, gliding it well past short third for a boundary.

This is pushed through quite quick and at the stumps, Hasaranga plays it late and jams the bat down to make the block.

Slower and just outside off, turning away, this one jumps up a bit at Hasaranga but he still manages to judge the length, rock back and punch it towards sweeper cover for a single.

Lobbed up, a bit fuller and around off, Charith Asalanka leans on and gets across before just easing it through mid on for one more.

Massive change in pace there on this one. Slowed down way too much through the air, fuller and just outside off, turns away sharply. Hasaranga makes room and manages to flay his hands through the line of the ball and pushes it towards cover and picks up a single.

FOUR! Bludgeoned away by Hasaranga! Fuller one, angled into middle and leg, Hasaranga sits down and clears the front leg before swatting it just one bounce and over the cow corner fence for a boundary.

Quicker and slightly pulled back a bit on this one does Santner. Sharp turn away, Hasaranga judges the length immediately, rocks back and plays it softly towards cover.

Angled in from well high up and this one turns away with additional bounce, Hasaranga manages to back away and keep it down on the off side.

Ends the over with a quicker one on middle. Fuller and drifting into the batter, Asalanka manages to bring his bat down in time and plays it towards cover and is busy looking for a run but there isn't any.

A tad too full, searching for the blockhole, Hasaranga just pushes it down to long on and collects a single.

Quicker and flatter this time, slightly pulled back the length, goes straight on, Asalanka goes back and punches it towards sweeper cover for a single.

Darts this one in full and around off, Wanindu Hasaranga heaves it off the inner half of the bat towards backward square leg and turns the strike over.

Floated up, just outside off, turning away, Asalanka leans on and pushes it to cover-point for a single.

FOUR! Sweetly struck! Just too short and angled into the batter, Charith Asalanka gets his hands out well in front and pulls it firmly in between square leg and mid-wicket for a timely boundary.

Banged in short and Hasaranga ducks underneath it and lets it through to the keeper.

Hits the deck hard and angles it into middle, Wanindu Hasaranga hops back and defends it back onto the deck.

Back of a length to the new batter. Trying to push him onto the back foot. Hasaranga is up to the task, waits back and taps the ball on its head towards point for no run.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! The bowling change has worked again for Mitchell Santner and New Zealand. A surprise bumper from Zakary Foulkes, dug in over leg and this one just zips off the deck. Bhanuka Rajapaksa is not expecting it and gets in an awkward position, playing a nothing pull shot. The ball goes off the gloves and straight into the clutches of Mitchell Hay behind the stumps. Sri Lanka have now lost half their side and things could get nervy here.

FOUR! Oh, that's gone through and sloppy work in the end as well from the Kiwis. Good length on off just nibbling away, Bhanuka Rajapaksa looks to tuck it away but gets a leading edge just behind the diving fielder at point and then the fielder in the deep dives to save the boundary but deflects it onto the ropes.

The off cutter, bowled into the surface and over off, Charith Asalanka leans back and pulls it through square leg for a single.

Quicker through the air, drifting in, looking to turn it away from middle, goes straight on and Rajapaksa defends it off the front foot.

Held back a bit and on a fullish length around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa leans on and makes the block.

OUT! CAUGHT! Glenn Phillips does get rid of the dangerman and that could be a big wicket as well in the context of the game. Phillips digs this one into the deck and bowls it outside off, Kamindu Mendis throws his hands at it and ends up getting a top edge that lobs up well in front of short third. Ish Sodhi does well to get forward and dives in to complete the catch. Mendis departs for 23 off 16 deliveries and New Zealand get their fourth wicket.

FOUR! Straight as an arrow from Kamindu Mendis! Dropped short and angled into the body, Mendis backs away and lifts it straight back over the bowler's head. This one goes on the half-volley into the boundary cushion and it will be a boundary.

Quicker and flatter on leg stump, Mendis tries to work it away towards square leg instead wears it on the pads.

Beauty to start with from Glenn Phillips! Comes from around the wicket and shortens the length on off, gets turn and bounce, Kamindu Mendis is taken aback and gets beaten past the outside edge.

Fuller but wayward down leg from Sodhi this time. Mendis flicks it towards short fine leg and is immediately off for a quick single. 13 runs coming off that Ish Sodhi over. At the halfway mark, Sri Lanka are 78/3, needing 58 runs from 60 balls.

Flatter and shorter, going across, on off, Aslalanka waits back and steers it wide of backward point for a single.

SIX! In the arc and it is put away with disdain! Sodhi errs as he serves it right in the slot, on off, Asalanka needs no second invitation as he clears his front leg and deposits it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Turning into the pads, on the fuller side, Asalanka wrists it to the man at mid-wicket.

Quicker and flatter, on off, Mendis waits back to punch it off the back foot towards sweeper cover for a single.

FOUR! Innovative and effective! Sodhi slips in the googly, full and on off. It is picked by Mendis who brings out the reverse and rolls his wrists on the ball. Hits it all along the ground, well wide of short third and picks up a boundary.

Beaten for the second time in the over! Pushed through by Bracewell, on a nagging length, on off, Asalanka lunges to defend. The ball straightens a touch to go past the outside edge. It rolls off the keeper's pads towards backward point.

Very full, on off, Charith Asalanka jams it out back to the bowler.

An absolute seed from Bracewell. Pitched just on off, this one turns away just that bit and goes past the outside edge and the off stump by a matter of inches.

Floated up, full and on off, Charith Asalanka pushes it to cover.

SIX! A shot of real class! Bracewell offers flight and serves it full, turning away, around off, Charith Asalanka gets half a stride in and gets to the pitch of the ball. Lifts it with the turn over the man at wide long off for a six.

Loopy delivery, on a fullish length, on off, Charith Asalanka takes it on the full and firms the drive to cover.

Flatter, quicker, on off, goes straight on, Mendis rocks back and punches it hard towards deep mid wicket and the fumble allows them to pick up another single which looked like just one.

This is flat and short, on off, Mendis gets on top of the bounce as he rocks back and dabs it down but can't get it past backward point.

Looped up, way slower through the air, on leg stump, Asalanka leans on and flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

At 84 kph, a bit of extra bounce on this one, on a nagging length, Charith Asalanka looks to clip it away on the leg side but closes the bat face early. The ball catches the shoulder of the bat and lobs in front of the bowler.

Fuller and on middle, turning into the batter. Asalanka tucks it away off the front foot, towards square leg for no run.

Starts off with a googly, full and on off, Mendis picks it a bit late but adjusts to knock it to long off for a single.

OUT! LBW! Dead straight and Kusal Perera starts walking back as soon as the finger is raised. Nagging length from Michael Bracewell, more on the fuller side and on middle. This one doesn't turn and just slides on. Perera gets pegged onto the back foot and plays all around a straight ball and gets thumped on the pads right in front of the stumps. The finger is raised and New Zealand get another timely wicket.

On the shorter side and on the pads, worked away onto the leg side for a single.

FOUR! Another delightful shot from Mendis and the 50 is up for Sri Lanka! Tossed up around off, Mendis makes a bit of room and goes inside out over covers and picks up another easy boundary.

Fractionally short around off, Kamindu Mendis makes room to cut but slices it away on the bounce to the fielder at short third.

Quicker and onto middle, turning away sharply, Mendis stays back and punches it towards cover for no run.

Tossed up quite full on off, Perera pushes the ball out and down to wide long off for a single.

Bowls this from wide of the crease, on a length, angles it into the batter. Kusal Perera shuffles across to flick but misses and wears it on the pads as it rolls down towards square leg for a leg bye.

Hard length around the top of off, Mendis lets the ball come on and jabs it away wide of point for a single.

FOUR! That is some timing from Kamindu Mendis. Too full and on the pads, Mendis picks it up and flicks it away well wide of the man in the deep on the leg side and picks up a boundary to get off the mark.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Zakary Foulkes steams in and bowls it a touch fuller on the off stump line. Pathum Nissanka comes down the pitch and looks to give himself room to open up the off side. However, the ball is a tad too full and Nissanka is beaten all ends up. The ball crashes into the top of off and Foulkes is delighted as New Zealand now have their second wicket.

On a length and onto middle, goes straight on, cramps up Kusal Perera for room. He still manages to bring his bat down in time and tucks it towards long leg for a single.

That is a sharp bumper! Zakary Foulkes clocks in at just 131 clicks and angles it in from around middle, Kusal Perera is beaten for pace and bounce while looking to pull.

WIDE! Slower one from around the wicket, spilled well down leg for a wide.

SIX! BANG! Too short around off, turning back in as well, Pathum Nissanka hangs deep and then backs away before swatting it wide of long on for a biggie.

A prolonged appeal from the bowler but no reaction from the umpire. Mitchell Santner has a word with the bowler but decides against the review. Quicker one, on a length and around off, Pathum Nissanka looks to reverse sweep but the ball seems to have lobbed up off the body and towards silly point. The keeper, Mitchell Hay scampers towards it and dives in to take a fine grab but it won't count.

Pushed through flatter on the pads, worked away around the corner for a single.

This one is floated up again but pushed wide of the off stump, Perera reaches out and lifts it over the cover region for a couple of more runs.

FOUR! Perera playing his shots here. Floated up full and angling into the legs, Perera plays it late and sweeps it well behind square leg for another boundary.

Starts from around the wicket to the left-hander and attacks the stumps, Perera watchfully blocks it off.

Big turn there! On a dragged length, angled in from outside off, this one pitches and turns away square with some extra bounce, leaving Nissanka perplexed.

Short again on middle and leg, pulled away from the crease and well in front of square for just a single.

FOUR! That's poor bowling from Santner! Quicker one, angled down the leg side, Kusal Perera has enough time to rock back and pull it away into the fine leg fence for another boundary. Sri Lanka really starting to fire now.

Drags this one down and angles it into the bodyline, Kusal Perera swivels and pulls it away past square leg for a couple of runs. And with that, he becomes the leading run scorer for Sri Lanka in T20Is, surpassing Tilakaratne Dilshan.

SIX! Kusal Perera gets a big chunk of that one alright! Tossed up on the stumps, Perera steps out a bit and slogs it high and just over the fielder stationed at deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Nagging length on middle, drifting back in, Kusal Perera plays all over it and gets hit high on the pads.

FOUR! Nicely played! Back of a length and around off, this one shoots off the deck but Nissanka controls it really well and just pinches it over backward point for a boundary. 12 off the over!

Just back of a length around middle and leg, nudged away in front of mid-wicket for a single.

Half a shout for caught behind but there's nothing on it. Slower bumper over leg, Kusal Perera looks to get inside the line and pull but is well beaten.

Hits the deck hard and bowls it around middle, Nissanka swings it away through mid-wicket for a single now.

FOUR! Real aggression coming in from Pathum Nissanka now and he gets away with it. Full and outside off, Nissanka steps out and backs away before throwing his hands at it. The ball gets sliced up and over the fielder at short third and trickles away into the fence.

Gets enough on that one! Pitched up around middle, angling in, Pathum Nissanka clears the front leg and uses the bottom hand to force it over wide mid on and picks up a couple of runs.

Slightly slower and fuller, on off, Kusal Perera gets his bat out in front and knocks it to mid-wicket.

OUT! PLUMB IN FRONT! Mitchell Santner strikes and gives New Zealand a much-needed early breakthrough! Santner stays around the wicket and drags the length back a bit but keeps the stumps into play, Kusal Mendis gets down for the sweep but fails to make any contact with the ball. The ball goes on to hit him on the back thigh and the umpire has no hesitation in raising the finger. Mendis has a quiet word with his partner and decides to keep walking. Sri Lanka are now 3/1 after 1.5 overs, needing 133 runs from 109 balls.

Speared in from around the wicket, on the fuller side, on middle and leg, Mendis lunges to defend it with a straight bat. Gets beaten on the inside edge and gets rapped on the front pad. Half a shout for LBW but that was going down leg.

Not in control but Mendis gets away with it! Fired in by Santner, on a nagging length, outside off, Kusal Mendis sees the width on offer and tries to cash in. Throws his hands at the delivery but a bit of extra bounce results in the ball catching the outer half of the bat and it goes on the bounce to backward point.

Floated up and the length is pulled back a bit, on middle, Pathum Nissanka gets down and drags the sweep to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Darts it in from around the wicket, very full, at the toes, Pathum Nissanka makes room and squeezes it out back to the bowler.

Duffy pitches it up, on off, Kusal Mendis presents the full face of the bat and eases the drive to mid off. A tidy start from Duffy!

Duffy takes pace off and bowls it at 123 kph, on the fuller side, on off, Mendis looks to play it down the ground but fails to pick the change of pace. Goes through the shot early and gets it off the inner half of the bat to mid-wicket.

WIDE! Tries to angle the ball back into the right-hander but gets the line wrong. Sprays it way down leg. Kusal Mendis lets it go.

Pathum Nissanka and Sri Lanka are underway! On a back of a length, on off, Pathum Nissanka gets on top of the bounce and punches it square of the wicket to deep point for a single.

Uppish but it falls just short! In the channel on off, on a good length, Pathum Nissanka extends his hands and drives it on the up. Ends up hitting it much straighter and it goes on the bounce to Mitchell Santner at mid off.

Honing in at the stumps with an upright seam, on a good length, Pathum Nissanka opts to play it off the back foot and gets his bat down to keep it out.

Duffy charges in from over the wicket and hits the deck hard, on a back of a length, on off, Pathum Nissanka gets on top of the bounce and punches it confidently to cover-point.