SL VS NZ - 2nd Test, New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka, 2019

Sri Lanka were probably 15 minutes away from drawing this Test match. Anyway, New Zealand deserved to win and they seem to have decoded the art of winning Test matches in sub-continent. The art that not a lot of teams visiting this part of world posses. So, the trophy is shared and India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka all have 60 points on the Test Championship points table. After this series, the action moves to T20Is where Kane Williamson will be having a much-needed rest. We are off for a couple of days rest too. That's it then, hopefully you enjoyed the coverage as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. This is Varun Dixit signing off on behalf of Ramakrishnan, Nikhil Jadhav and our scorer Praveen. Take care!

Kane Williamson: Both teams played terrific cricket and deserve to share the series. It was a much improved performance from us. It was challenging because of the conditions and weather. There are so many things like bad light that can come in your way in what you are trying to achieve. Great effort to push for a win and come out with a victory. When the game starts coming so close, the light's always a factor at this time of the year. It was an outstanding effort to take 10 wickets in the first innings. Good collective effort from the boys with some brilliant individual performance allowed us to win today. Overall, a good series for us against a tough opposition. Spinners bowled well in the recent series against UAE too and seamers were pretty crucial too, they shared the load really well. Both teams are very pleased to get some points in Test Championship. I am looking forward to a little time off.

Dimuth Karunaratne: It was a very good wicket and 240-odd was not enough in the first innings. The credit goes to the Kiwis, they batted really well on this wicket. We needed some partnership today. But there are some positives for us, de Silva batted well and Dickwella was good today. End of the day, we have to say that we didn't do really well. All the batters had to be more patient and they need to convert their starts like Latham and BJ. We know how to play in these conditions but we have to be more consistent. Dhananjaya, Dickwella and bowlers did really well for us as this wasn't the easiest wicket to bowl on.

BJ Watling is the Man of the Series

Tom Latham, Man of the Match: Nice to contribute and build partnership with guys. We haven't played Test cricket for a while and we had to make some adjustments. As soon as I saw Dickwella going for the paddle, I anticipated the catch and glad that I took the catch. Conditions are a lot different over here than they are at home, so it's nice to come over here and contribute. Special contribution from the bowlers on the final day to take us through to the victory.

Innings wins by non-Asian sides vs SL in Sri Lanka:
Aus inngs & 38 runs Kandy 1983
NZ inngs & 61 runs Colombo CCC 1984
SA inngs & 208 runs Colombo SSC 1993
NZ inngs & 65 runs Colombo PSS 2019

16:43 Local Time, 11:13 GMT, 16:43 IST: They were robbed off the World Cup by Benjamin Stokes, Karunaratne a week ago stole a Test victory from them. They fought against Sri Lanka and some bad luck(rain) in this match and finally, found a way to come on top and level the series. Sri Lanka gave the impression that they weren't mentally present in the first hour. They lost too many wickets in the first hour and were reeling at 32/5 at one stage. The match was lost at that stage but their skipper Karunaratne and Dickwella showed some resistance and took the match deep with a fighting sixth-wicket partnership. But the top-order collapse meant, they had too much to do. Dickwella fought hard with the tail, but Ajaz Patel eventually found a way to dismiss him and that proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Sri Lanka. BTW, the groundsmen at the venue were top-notch throughout the five days, rain arrived almost daily and they did an incredible job to make the ground ready in a very short span of time. It is hard to imagine a result in this Test match without their superlative efforts. Presentations to follow.

Boult to Lasith Embuldeniya, out Caught by Williamson!! That's it! Finally, something right happens for New Zealand. And fittingly, it's Boult who takes the final breakthrough for them. They win by an innings and 65 runs! The bumper was too hot to handle for Lasith Embuldeniya, he took his eyes off the ball and was in no position to combat. It popped up off the glove and Williamson took the catch at gully. Lasith Embuldeniya c Williamson b Boult 5(11) [4s-1]

Boult to Lasith Embuldeniya, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Boult to Lasith Embuldeniya, FOUR, full and down the leg-side, Lasith Embuldeniya flicks it past fine leg for a boundary

Ajaz Patel to Lahiru Kumara, no run, defended to the on-side

Ajaz Patel to Lahiru Kumara, no run,

Ajaz Patel to Lahiru Kumara, no run,

Lahiru Kumara, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Ajaz Patel to Dickwella, out Caught by Latham!! Oh dear! That should be the game, set and match for New Zealand. Look at Dickwella, he is absolutely gutted. Looks down in disappointment whereas Ajaz Patel is jubiliant. Contrasting emotions! He paddles this, it comes off the face of the bat and then deviates off the arm-guard, Latham takes a fantastic catch at FSL. He anticipated so early and moved to his left to complete the catch. It is never easy when you are fielding at that position. New Zealand are just 1 wicket away from a famous victory. Dickwella c Latham b Ajaz Patel 51(161) [4s-6]

Ajaz Patel to Dickwella, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Ajaz Patel to Lasith Embuldeniya, 1 run, too full and on the stumps, Lasith Embuldeniya steers it wide of short third

Ajaz Patel to Lasith Embuldeniya, no run, this one held it's line and Lasith Embuldeniya played for the turn. It went past the outside edge

Ajaz Patel [18.0-3-30-1] is back into the attack

Boult to Dickwella, no run, fuller and wide of off, pushes it out to cover. Lasith Embuldeniya would be on strike in the next over!