New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 2 wickets in the first Test New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by 2 wickets in the first Test at the Hagley Oval at Christchurch Monday.

Kane Williamson unbeaten 121 off 194 balls and Daryl Mitchell 81 off 86 leading the way to New Zealand to go one up in the 2-match series. Although with that defeat Sri Lanka failed to qualify to the World test Championship final 2023.   

The day 5, start of play being delayed by a wet outfield, New Zealand’s overnight pair of Williamson and Tom Latham soon got on course adding 22 runs to the overnight 28 before Latham was bowled by Prabath Jayasuriya for 25. Williamson proceeded to take control adding a further 40 for the third wicket with Henry Nicholas.  Nicholas made 20 becoming Jayasuriya’s second wicket to a catch by Kusal Mendis with the score 90 for 3 after 35.4 overs.

Williamson and Daryl Mitchell in adding 142 for the fourth wicket as New Zealand sighted victory when Mitchell departed bowled by pacer Asitha Fernando. He had performed a fine acceleration job hitting 4 sixes and 3 boundaries.

Williamson’s match winning innings marked his 28th test century and he struck 11 boundaries and a six in carrying the Player of the Match award.

Asitha Fernando 3 for 63 and Prabath Jayasuriya 2 for 92 were the pick of the Lankan bowlers.

SCORES:

Sri Lanka 355 & 302 (Angelo Mathews 115, Dhananjaya de Silva n.o. 47, Dinesh Chandimal 42, Blair Tickner 4/100, Matt Henry 3/71, Tim Southee 2/57)

New Zealand 373 & 286/8 (70 Overs) (Kane Williamson n.o. 121, Daryl Mitchell 81, Tom Latham 25, Henry Nicholas 20, Asitha Fernando 3/63, Prabath Jayasuriya 2/92, Kasun Rajitha 1/63, Lahiru Kumara 1/61)