NZ VS SL - 2nd ODI, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2018-19

That is it from this game which was about one guy going absolute bonkers and bananas to put us on the edge of our seats. This is Kumar Abhisekh Das lending a helping hand to Raju Peethala for the coverage of this game. Trust me, we are drained. You guys can munch more as the cricketing action continues.

Kane Williamson: Probably, 85 percent of the game was clinical from us. Then, Thisara came out and played out of his skin. The wind factor and few fumbles went against us. But feels nice that we held our nerves and came out with a win. Thisara played outstandingly well and kept putting us under pressure. It is about guys going out there and performing a role for us. The beauty of today versus the last game was that this wicket was gripping a bit and hence was not a 360 or 370 wicket. Jimmy has been outstanding. His knocks have been vital in both the games.

Lasith Malinga: We got a partnership but then we lost wickets in the middle overs. I have always felt Thisara Perera is a match-winner. Very happy for him. We needed middle-order partnerships but we missed it. We had to use our variations according to the wind. We can't improve our skill overnight but mentally we need to do better.

Thisara Perera: I am very proud of myself as this is my first century. I have been batting at number 8 and 9 for the last 8 years. But thanks to the coaching staff who gave me a chance at number 7. Frankly, I was not thinking anything. I had to take the responsibilty throughout the innings. I asked the tail to please play out a few balls. I am working hard on my batting. I was trying for a victory rather than avenging the five sixes.

Some days you have to pinch yourself hard to come out of a dream. Thisara Perera had everyone hypnotized. He was the Pied Piper. We all were his hypnotized rats. 140 off 74 balls including 13 sixes lit up a game which had New Zealand written all over it. But the writing seemed to faint out a bit as Perera marched on clubbing the bowlers for sixes all around the park. Yes, he survived chances but the hitting was top notch. Everything in his arc disappeared. Only if the top-order had shown similar fight, Lanka would have pocketed this chase but they lose this humdinger by 21 runs. Not a fair result by any means considering Perera put up a show which will remain etched forever. New Zealand earlier had a more sane approach and finished with a hefty score of 319. Sri Lanka messed up the chase in the middle overs before remarkably recovering in the final stages thanks to Perera to fall inches short. I need some time to recover. You guys hang in there for what the skippers have to say about this phenomenal assault.

Matt Henry to Perera, out Caught by Boult!! And a terrific catch ends the fun. After all those dropped chances, Boult pulls off a stunner running in from long-on to finish it off. Excellent take as that was dipping on him. New Zealand get out of jail and win the series 2-0 with a game to spare. That was a length delivery, Perera backed away and muscled it but could not time it well enough for the man at long-on to come in and take it. Perera c Boult b Matt Henry 140(74) [4s-8 6s-13]

Matt Henry to Perera, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Matt Henry to Perera, wide, wided by the umpire as that was going over the head. 22 more needed now. What does Perera do? Bat sensibly? Does he have the DNA to do the same?

Perera is down though. All the slogging has had the back taking a huge toll. The physio is giving him a massage.

Matt Henry to Pradeep, 3 runs, Pradeep backs away and creams it past cover.. everything going Lanka's way and guess what Munro has dived and fetched it back. They get a triple and Perera has the strike back as well. That is the only save from a New Zealander that even the Lankan fans would have cheered

Matt Henry [9.0-1-48-1] is back into the attack

An entire over for Pradeep to survive. Will he be able to do it?

Southee to Perera, no run, and intelligent from Southee who bowls a bumper for Perera to be taken aback and force him to duck under it

Southee to Perera, SIX, oh my my! Brutality is in fashon tonight. Picks the bones out of that dead meat of a delivery and hacks it over deep square leg for a sixer. 26 more needed..in his currency 4 sixes..4 sixes in this over already

Southee to Perera, SIX, and you know what? 12th Six. I continue to rub my eyes in disbelief. Full toss again and Perera has murdered that across the line to send it over deep mid for a sixer

Southee to Perera, no run, slower delivery across the line and Perera misses it

Southee to Perera, SIX, six number 11! This is unreal. Video game mode is on. He has all the cheat codes. Because that was a home run. Full toss and Perera slammed it down the ground over long-on for a sixer

Southee to Perera, SIX, 10 sixes! T10 cricket mode on. He ain't hitting sixes. He is plucking flowers. Full toss and Perera just muscled it across the line to send it flying away over widish long-on. 44 more needed. Perera has brought this game alive from the burial ground

Neesham to Pradeep, no run, and Pradeep does well to sway away from the perfume ball and give his partner one more chance

Neesham to Perera, 1 run, toe-ends the pull away towards long-on and gets a single. 50 needed now! Gettable for sure if Perera continues like this. One ball for Pradeep to survive