So another wonderful Test to round-up a week or so of exciting cricket. Thanks for all your comments and feedback. I may not be drunk, but the fingers certainly feel that way. This is Devashish Fuloria signing off, it's been a pleasure.
Ponting, what a legend!
Presentation: Ross Taylor wins the Man-of-the-Match award: "It is always good to come overseas and win. The bowlers were brilliant and they set it up. I guess we got a lot of stick last week for our performances, but we stuck to our task and fought hard throughout five matches. We took our catches and fielder pretty well. Hopefully we can take some momentum from here to South Africa."
Mahela Jayawardene: "Credit to New Zealand team, they played really well and we were always behind. Three Tests would have been brilliant, but this series has been good and tough at the same time. They batted really well and they scored well in the first innings and we didn't do that. Their bowlers kept asking questions and kept the pressure up. We need to improve against the new ball when we go the Australia. But New Zealand bowled very well in these conditions."
Rangana Herath is the Man of the Series: "For 20 wickets, I had to bowl a lot and it was good for me in a two-match series. I am confident ahead of the Australia series."
Samuel: "I think the best thing about this victory is that now New Zealand has a team that can take 20 wickets! Say what you will about the batting being talented but not performing. But the bowling attack hasn't looked as threatening as this since Bond retired. All round performance. More hard work ahead. Bring it on SAFS! "
Kalpit: "What a superb cricket we have seen in last week or so. Visitors' week it has been. It started with England, then RSA drew superbly and now Kiwis have given it finishing touch. Not only visitors but also Test Cricket has bounced back."
Karthik: "For all those wondering why the fuss about this potential NZ victory, the black caps have won only 9 of 43 tests in the last 5 years. Of those, 6 have come against Zim & Ban. This is a big victory folks, against a higher ranked team and in an away series!"
Tom: "Great result for world cricket, good to see NZ finally getting a result go there way, I don't know what it is, but I get the feeling that South Africa, Aus, Eng, NZ are going to dominate world cricket due to the fact they are not flat track bullies!" Surely they can, they seem to have incisive bowling attacks for all conditions.
New Zealand square the series with their first win in 14 years in Sri Lanka. What a test match this has been? Sri Lanka fought hard all day through Angelo Mathews and some useful efforts around him. But New Zealand bowlers kept coming hard on a dead pitch. It was only a matter of time before the new ball was taken. A big big win for the kiwis.
Lots of big contributions from New Zealand - Taylor, Williamson, Southee and Bolt. From a Sri Lankan perspective, their top-order left the team in doldrums in both innings, and that turned out to be the difference between the two teams.
Brendan: "After watching this match unfold, seeing the New Zealand bowling attack performing so well, I can't wait to see them come to England in the summer! Was expecting an easy win until now..."
AD Mathews c Guptill b Boult 84 (299m 228b 11x4 1x6) SR: 36.84
END OF OVER:85 | 17 Runs | SL: 190/9
- Angelo Mathews84 (227b)
- Rangana Herath1 (1b)
- Tim Southee20-5-58-3
- Trent Boult17-6-28-2
He needs the strike now.
END OF OVER:84 | 4 Runs | SL: 173/9
- Angelo Mathews68 (222b)
- Rangana Herath0 (0b)
- Trent Boult17-6-28-2
- Tim Southee19-5-41-3
Sean: "This game has kept my Grandfather and I awake all week. The Black caps when away have kept us both awake late for years and this is why! Thanks for rewarding my patience lads! I'm holding my breath for a win now :) Clean champagne glasses ready to go!"
