Nz cricket

'Test cricket holy s***': Kiwis win by three inches in ANOTHER last-ball nailbiter.

New Zealand needed 257 runs from 53 overs for victory, while Sri Lanka required nine wickets to keep their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final alive. When Daryl Mitchell waltzed to the crease, New Zealand needed 195 runs from 34.2 overs — the odds were heavily against them. The penultimate delivery was, controversially, a dot ball, with a bouncer from Fernando flying over Williamson’s head. The decision was sent upstairs to the third umpire, with replays confirming Williamson was safe by less than five centimetres. Only a couple of weeks ago, we were saying the same thing about Sri Lankan seamer Asitha Fernando delivered a well-directed bouncer that sailed past Williamson’s head and into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.

Kane Williamson has delivered New Zealand one of its finest Test wins, but not before a chaotic final ball...

[came down to the final ball](https://wwos.nine.com.au/cricket/live-scores/new-zealand-v-sri-lanka-sri-lanka-tour-of-new-zealand-2023/nzsl03092023213914), and was decided by mere centimetres in chaotic scenes. Mitchell was named the player of the match for his 102 in the first innings and 81 in the second. For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by [New Zealand](https://wwos.nine.com.au/cricket/new-zealand-cricket) star [Kane Williamson](https://wwos.nine.com.au/cricket/kane-williamson) had to dive as his stumps were thrown down and the Black Caps won with a single bye on the last delivery of the match. Fernando opted to go for two short balls to finish the Test, with Williamson even asking the umpire whether the final ball would be called for a wide as he awaited the third umpire's verdict on the run out attempt. The chaos on the final delivery was made even more incredible by the fact that the non-striker, Neil Wagner, was carrying a hamstring injury as well as a bulging disk in his back.

The Black Caps have somehow achieved an astonishing victory in the final moments of a test — again. A fortnight after a one-run victory over England that ...

That left Tim Southee one fewer bowling option when the tourists began day four on 83-3, leading by 65. That brought together two players the home side might have handpicked when contemplating such a momentous challenge. In short, it’s a sizeable ask. No 1 on that list was also achieved in Christchurch, though at Lancaster Park. No 27 came up this afternoon in fading light with 32 runs still needed to beat Sri Lanka and, finding the gaps while charging hard between the wickets, that half-finished job was eventually, amazingly, completed. But there was then another couple of complications to come, as first Mitchell unluckily dragged onto his stumps. At one end, unbeaten on 11, is Tom Latham, averaging 60 in his nine previous innings this summer. From such a position, the sun still shining, it looked like there could be only one winner. With the test almost escaping New Zealand’s grasp, Southee was undoubtedly relieved to get his on a new cherry, immediately generating swing and making the breakthrough in his second over. Williamson’s steady accumulation was initially complemented well by Daryl Mitchell’s aggression, the pair putting together a pivotal fourth-wicket stand of 142 from 157. That’s especially true when factoring in the absence today of Neil Wagner, the hero of the Basin Reserve unable to bowl — and ruled out of the second test — with a bulging disc in his back and torn hamstring. Henry’s desperation wasn’t enough to avoid a run out, leaving Wagner to charge to the crease in a manner belying the bulging disc in his back and the tear in his hamstring.

New Zealand conjured up a remarkable victory for the second time in two weeks by chasing down a target of 285 runs on the final ball of the rain-shortened ...

Sri Lanka would have qualified for the WTC final if they had swept New Zealand in the two-match series and Australia denied India victory in the ongoing fourth test in Ahmedabad. Sri Lanka were still chasing a win that would keep them on course for a spot in the WTC final and Prabath Jayasuriya put them on the front foot with two early wickets. March 13 (Reuters) - New Zealand conjured up a remarkable victory for the second time in two weeks by chasing down a target of 285 runs on the final ball of the rain-shortened final day to beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in the first test in Christchurch on Monday.

How many overs left today on the fifth day of the first Test of Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand 2023 at Hagley Oval?

As a result, New Zealand, who had played 17 overs yesterday, are slated to play a minimum of 70 overs in this innings. With more than a session getting wasted in the morning, umpires eventually decided that a minimum of 53 overs would be bowled on Day 5. Also as expected, the match continues to hang in balance with all the three results possible in what is an extended session of Test cricket.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Kane Williamson and Neil Wagner stole a bye from the last ball of the first cricket test Monday to beat Sri Lanka by two ...

Southee’s five-for helped New Zealand end Sri Lanka’s first innings at 355 in a solid start to the second day. New Zealand captain Tim Southee saw a green pitch on the first day and sent Sri Lanka in. Neil Wagner, the hero of New Zealand’s win over England, had been supposed to be ruled out of the match and the next test with a bulging disc in his back and a hamstring strain. It contained two centuries, numerous half centuries, a five-wicket haul to Tim Southee and it saw some of the chess-like tactical moves of good cricket. When it cleared the umpires announced a single extended session in which New Zealand needed 257 runs to win and Sri Lanka needed nine wickets. A limpid rainbow hung over Hagley Park as the players came out in the late afternoon to play out the last chapter of an absorbing match.

New Zealand conjured up a remarkable victory for the second time in two weeks by chasing down a target of 285 runs on the final ball of the rain-shortened ...

As a captain, I'm really happy with the boys." Seeing him so calm in the middle kept us all calm on the sidelines." Sri Lanka made a promising start to their quest by making 355 in their first knock and looked set to take a commanding first-innings lead when their bowlers reduced New Zealand to 162-5 at the end of day two. Sri Lanka were still chasing a win that would keep them on course for a spot in the WTC final and Prabath Jayasuriya put them on the front foot with two early wickets. March 13 (Reuters) - New Zealand conjured up a remarkable victory for the second time in two weeks by chasing down a target of 285 runs on the final ball of the rain-shortened final day to beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in the first test in Christchurch on Monday. The dramatic win, which came on the back of the one-run victory over England after following on in Wellington, put the hosts 1-0 up in the two-match series and ended Sri Lanka's hopes of playing in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Unbelievable!!!! Test Cricket!! Imagine having been in that NZ changeroom for this and the England finale. Incredible scenes.

Epic Test Match. Wow what a epic test match. In the end experience of Kane Williamson was the difference! I hope Asitha Fernando gets to play much more Test cricket.— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) Another spectacular end to a test match. Test cricket produced another classic, soon after that [England thriller](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-new-zealand-2022-23-1322349/new-zealand-vs-england-2nd-test-1322356/full-scorecard), much to the delight of its fans.