Kane Williamson
| Photo Credit: MARTY MELVILLE
A Kane Williamson century led New Zealand to a dramatic last-ball, two-wicket victory in opposition to Sri Lanka on a rain-disrupted remaining day in Christchurch on Monday.
In a helter-skelter end, the one Sri Lankans not guarding the boundary for a lot of the closing 10 overs had been the bowler and wicketkeeper as New Zealand chased down their goal of 285.
The successful run got here from a bye after Williamson missed along with his swipe on the ball.
He completed 121 not out with New Zealand 285-8 and Sri Lanka two wickets shy of their goal.
The thrilling New Zealand win scuppered Sri Lanka’s probabilities of making the World Test Championship remaining, handing the spot to India as an alternative.
When rain worn out the primary two classes on the fifth day, the umpires dominated there could be a minimal of 53 overs performed in the night, which meant New Zealand must common 4.85 an over.
After a gentle however sluggish begin which noticed the hosts at 90-3, Williamson and Daryl Mitchell picked up the tempo.
They placed on 142 in 26 overs for the fourth wicket with the precision of a one-day partnership.
Sri Lanka paid a heavy value for Williamson being dropped by Niroshan Dickwella on 33 as he went on to provide his twenty seventh century.
The 31-year-old Mitchell, a late arrival on the worldwide stage, contributed 81 to raise his common to an exceptional 59.04 from 26 innings.
In a match of see-sawing fortunes, Sri Lanka had the higher hand on the opening two days earlier than a first-innings century from Mitchell and a swashbuckling 72 from Matt Henry — the final 60 from solely 35 deliveries — swung the sport in New Zealand’s favour.
Sri Lanka fought their manner again into rivalry on the fourth day with a defiant 115 from Angelo Mathews, who constructed partnerships of 105 for the fifth wicket with Dinesh Chandimal after which 60 with Dhananjaya de Silva.
When the Sri Lanka second innings folded at 302 it left New Zealand needing 285 to win on a floor the place the best fourth-innings rating was 256-8 by New Zealand in a 2018 draw in opposition to England.
Devon Conway was eliminated for 5, leaving the result on a knife-edge going into the ultimate day.
When play resumed on Monday, Prabath Jayasuriya made early in-roads with the wickets of Tom Latham for 25 and Henry Nicholls for 20.
Asitha Fernando bowled Mitchell and Tom Blundell (three) and had Michael Bracewell caught for 10 to depart New Zealand 266-6 and needing an extra 19 runs with 16 balls left.
Williamson stored going to take the sport to the ultimate ball as Tim Southee (one) and Matt Henry (4) got here and went, with Neil Wagner not out nought.
For Sri Lanka, Fernando took 3-63 and Jayasuriya 2-92.
The second Test begins in Wellington on Friday.
