Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell star in New Zealand's Christchurch heist
Asitha Fernando led a spirited Sri Lanka fight, but it all came down to a scrambled bye off the final ball under the floodlights
Asitha Fernando led a spirited Sri Lanka fight, but it all came down to a scrambled bye off the final ball under the floodlights
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: Ekanth and Madushka
James: "Forget Bazball its the Kiwis making test great incredible yet again!" Indeed they have and it has been a privilege to witness it. Cheers to everyone for joining an absolute party. Hope to see you again for the Wellington Test. For now, on behalf of Madushka Balasuriya and Thilak Rama, I'm Ekanth signing off.
Mac Jean Chapsy: "BLACK CAPS!!! KANE!!! Best day of my life guys!" AYYYEEEE! Cheers, buddy.
JT: "All because @Chapsy skipped school"
Sharad: "Spare of thought for the ever dependable Angelo Mathews! What else has the man go to do??"
Vikrant : "Great knock by KW... Cheers to both the teams for an enthralling finish to a test match...!!!"
Apurva Pandey: "My encrypted folder in my PC is "Kane Williamson". Guess what's the password - Blackcaps. Love to KW from India. "
sravan: "Blistering Barnacles. I am going for a bloody ice bath now. Hair is on fire. "
Kumar : "NZ pulled the highest chase in the ground. What an exhibition for test cricket. Way to go"
Karthik: "Thank you Kane - Indian cricket fan from London. You know what I mean. "
Daryl Mitchell is the POTM for his 102 and 81. The stream has ended on the telly before the presentations were shown. But worry not, the quotes and the reactions will be up in some form in the content that'll come by.
The day started after a delay of over four hours due to rain. Latham was steady while he was in. Nicholls got a start too but fell. Then the big stand. A 142 from 157 between Mitchell and Williamson. Williamson struggled while starting but took his time to go up the gears. Mitchell was brave, he created luck that both batters rode. Sri Lanka went for bouncers and yorkers late in the piece. Asitha was landing jaffas at will. It led to a flurry of wickets but Williamson saw it through to the end.
7:44pm: Steady the ship, fly the plane, roll the cart, roll Titanic... Is there anything KW can't do?! Word of appreciation for Sri Lanka's performance too, they fought valiantly and stayed in the game till the last over. But it was a case of fortune favouring Williamson and Mitchell's skill and bravery. Sri Lanka used just four bowlers. The spinner, Jayasuriya, got wickets but went for runs. The wides given when he went down leg could create many a discussion. Dickwella dropping Williamson too. Fernando's brilliance needs acknowledging. But it's all Williamson, dude's beyond us mortals' comprehensions.
One result out, India should be through to the WTC final. But KW should get the headlines
The birthday boy is in despite the injury! Can he run quick though? Five needed off three.
Yasser: "What a Cracker! All 4 results possible down to the last over"
MJ Henry run out 4 (9m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 133.33
Three wickets left, SL win very unlikely now but not impossible. KW on strike. WIll he get twos?
Aby Mathew: "A tie anyone ?" Seven needed. Forget deep breaths, suck in whatever air however you can.
The New Zealand batter has a system that insulates him from the make-or-break nature of his sport
Also, the Christchurch thriller was only the second instance of a team reaching their target on the final ball of a Test match
"Seeing how calm he is in the middle keeps us all calm as well," Southee said of Williamson
Asitha Fernando led a spirited Sri Lanka fight, but it all came down to a scrambled bye off the final ball under the floodlights
In a very Kane Williamson sort of way he made sure nothing less than the perfect play would catch him out at the pivotal moment of the Christchurch Test