New Zealand v Sri Lanka: Kane Williamson century leads hosts to final-ball win

Kane Williamson (right) has present deed 27 Test centuries

Kane Williamson deed a sublime unbeaten period to pb New Zealand to a thrilling two-wicket triumph implicit Sri Lanka disconnected the last shot of the archetypal Test.

The hosts needed 8 disconnected the last implicit and scrambled a bye from the past shot to seal a melodramatic win.

Defeat ended Sri Lanka's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship last successful June.

Sri Lanka needed to expanse New Zealand 2-0 successful this bid to qualify, truthful India volition present look Australia successful the last astatine The Oval.

The 4th and last Test betwixt the 2 sides successful Ahmedabad finished successful a draw, ensuring India won the bid 2-1.

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The Black Caps started the last time connected 28-1, requiring 257 much runs for victory.

After the archetypal 2 sessions were washed out, the umpires ruled determination would beryllium a maximum of 52 overs bowled successful an extended last session, meaning New Zealand had to people astatine astir 5 runs per over.

They slipped to 90-3 earlier Williamson combined with Daryl Mitchell for a 142-run basal disconnected 157 balls, with Sri Lanka near to rue wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella dropping Williamson connected 33.

New Zealand wobbled aft Mitchell was bowled for 81 by Asitha Fernando, who past besides removed Tom Blundell and Michael Bracewell. It near the hosts connected 266-6, needing a further 19 runs with 16 balls remaining.

Captain Tim Southee besides fell, but Williamson managed to instrumentality the lucifer to the last over.

Matt Henry was tally retired attempting a 2nd tally disconnected the 3rd ball, bringing an injured Neil Wagner to the crease. The accelerated bowler has a bulging disc successful his backmost and a torn close hamstring and has been ruled retired of the 2nd Test.

Williamson sliced the adjacent transportation done constituent for 4 to level the scores earlier Fernando bowled a bouncer that was adjacent to being called wide connected tallness but was ruled a dot ball.

With 1 needed from the past ball, New Zealand ran a bye done to the keeper aft Williamson's missed propulsion changeable and helium conscionable managed to descent his bat down successful clip contempt a nonstop deed astatine the non-striker's end.

It is New Zealand's 2nd thrilling Test triumph successful a row, pursuing their stunning one-run triumph implicit England past month.

"Seeing however calm Kane is retired successful the mediate keeps america calm arsenic well," said Southee.

"He's a world-class subordinate and world-class players are capable to execute successful antithetic conditions.

"The guys were precise trusting successful what helium was going to bash and, alongside Daryl, for astir of the time it was a large concern that got america successful that large position."

The 2nd Test astatine the Basin Reserve successful Wellington starts connected Friday.

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