NZ vs SL Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR MORE! Glenn Phillips finishes the game off with back-to-back boundaries! Dilshan Madushanka pulls the length back and tries to go short, over middle and leg, Glenn Phillips swivels in his crease and pulls it hard and to the right of deep square leg for a boundary. A job well done for New Zealand as they win this encounter by 5 wickets and more than 26 overs to spare!

FOUR! Straight as an arrow! This is bowled on a fullish length, on off from over the wicket, Glenn Phillips stays still and hammers it past mid off for a boundary. New Zealand are just a hit away now.

Angling away, on a length, outside off, Tom Latham gets the weight on the front foot and times the drive wide of deep point for a couple of runs.

A rather optimistic shout for LBW! Serves it fuller in length, around leg, Tom Latham leans on but misses the clip as he gets hit on the front pad. It looked to be pitching outside leg but Angelo Mathews is convinced and Kusal Mendis takes the review. Nothing on UltraEdge but it is pitching outside leg on Ball Tracking. A review more in desperation from Sri Lanka.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! A fantastic grab from Charith Asalanka! Angelo Mathews keeps it slower, on a good length, on off, Daryl Mitchell opens himself up to go inside out. He gets deceived by the slowness of the delivery and goes through his shot early. Mitchell lobs it in the air towards deep point where Charith Asalanka covers good ground to his left and puts in a full-length dive. The ball stays in his hands even as his elbow hits the ground.

FOUR! Too easy! Angelo Mathews errs in line as he bowls it slower, down leg, on a length, Daryl Mitchell just has to get bat to ball and he does so to help it wide of short fine leg for a boundary.

Length delivery, outside off, Glenn Phillips hangs back and punches it firmly through covers for a single.

At 123.4 kph, seaming away, on a length, around off, Glenn Phillips looks to thrash this one through the off side but the ball nips away to beat the bat.

Pitched up on middle and leg, Glenn Phillips plays it late and uses his wrists to tuck it away through mid-wicket for a run.

Good length around off, Glenn Phillips stands tall and punches it firmly toward mid off.

Hard length over middle, angled across, Glenn Phillips stays back and tucks it away neatly toward the gap at mid-wicket and speeds back for the second run.

Wide! Attempted bumper over the left shoulder but this one is spilled down the leg side.

A length ball on middle and leg, hit away on the up and down to long on for one more.

Banged in short and angled across the right-hander. Glenn Phillips pulls it away toward deep mid-wicket and looks for two but Daryl Mitchell denies the second run and they settle for the single.

Bowled slightly back of a length around the top of off, Daryl Mitchell punches it from his crease and straight back past the bowler between mid off and mid on for a single.

Good length around the top of off stump, Glenn Phillips blocks it out.

FOUR! Flailed away for a boundary! Short and wide outside off, Glenn Phillips throws his hands at it and the ball flies off the outer half of the bat, uppishly and between backward point and short third for a boundary.

Full and on off stump, driven down to long on for a run.

OUT! RUN OUT! Oh, dear! Mark Chapman storms off the field and that is poor cricket from New Zealand. Angelo Mathews pitches this one up on middle and leg, Chapman clears the front leg and looks to slog it away but gets an inside edge onto the pads and the ball rolls toward backward point. Chapman is ball-watching while Daryl Mitchell is down at the batter's end. Sadeera Samarawickrama is the man who picks up the ball and throws it back to Mathews and Mitchell makes sure that he gets past Chapman, so when the bails are dislodged Chapman is the one who is out.

Slower in pace, shorter and outside off too, Daryl Mitchell slaps this one without much timing in front of mid off and gets across for a single.

Pitched up on a nagging length and on off, Daryl Mitchell covers the line well and keeps it out on the off side.

Hit extremely hard! Dilshan Madushanka bowls it on a fullish length, on off, Daryl Mitchell gets his front leg out of the way and hammers it hard back towards the bowler. Dilshan Madushanka performs a brave stop in his followthrough with his right boot and saves a certain boundary. The ball deflects off his right ankle in front of long on for a single.

FOUR! Not in complete control but four nonetheless! Dilshan Madushanka bowls it slower, on a length, on middle and leg, Daryl Mitchell clears his front leg to go down the ground but the bat twists in his hands and ends up hitting it towards wide long off for a boundary.

Much closer to off, on a back of a length, Mark Chapman gets a bit cramped for room but still manages to push it away from extra cover for a run.

Takes pace off this time from around the wicket, fuller and outside off, Daryl Mitchell prods forward and drives it down to long off for a single.

Angling in, on a good length, on middle, Mark Chapman pats it in front of mid on for a single.

FOUR! Nicely done! Dilshan Madushanka starts off on a shortish length, outside off, Mark Chapman initially winds up to pull it away but changes his mind and slaps it over extra cover for a boundary.

Lands it on a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell gets behind the line and blocks it out.

This is bowled on a length, on off, Daryl Mitchell watchfully defends it out to cover.

Another delivery on a good length, on off, Mark Chapman pushes it towards mid off and calls Daryl Mitchell through for a quick single.

Serves it on a good length, at the stumps, Mark Chapman punches it firmly to mid off.

WIDE! Errs in line as he sprays this one down leg, on a length, Mark Chapman misses the tickle and it is called a wide.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Angelo Mathews gets his man! Keeps it on a short of a length, much closer to the off-stump, Kane Williamson gets a bit cramped for room as he looks to cut this one away from the body. He fails to red the bounce as he gets a bottom edge that deflects back onto the stumps. New Zealand lose their skipper but they are only 42 runs away now.

FOUR! Kane Williamson gives the charge now! Back of a length, over middle, Kane Williamson shimmies down the track and angles the bat perfectly to hit it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Slanting back in, short and on the pads, the ball keeps a bit low but Kane Williamson still manages to flick it through square leg for a single.

Bowls it from the front of the hand, short and on middle and leg, Daryl Mitchell uses the depth of his crease to knock it down to long on for a single.

Sees the batter advance and fires it in flat, at the stumps, tucked to mid-wicket again..

Full and on off, clipped to mid-wicket.

SIX! Good use of the feet! Fractionally short, on off, Daryl Mitchell steps out and gets to the pitch of the ball. He frees his arms and tonks it over mid off for a flat maximum.

Turning in, full and on off, Daryl Mitchell prods forward and pushes it off the inner half of the bat towards the bowler.

Width offered again, on a length, Daryl Mitchell punches it through covers to retain the strike with a single.

On a good length, on off, Kane Williamson runs it late and down to third man for a single.

FOUR! Shot of authority! A nothing delivery by Angelo Mathews as this is back of a length, slower as well, outside off, Kane Williamson gets the width he needs and crouches to hammer it past extra cover for a boundary.

Lands it on a back of a length, on middle, Daryl Mitchell swivels to pull this one but gets an inside edge onto his body and the ball rolls on the leg side for a single.

In the air..but well wide! Angelo Mathews bowls it back of a length, on off, Daryl Mitchell tries to go for the pull off the front foot. He does not get it where he intended as the ball skies high in the air but drops well in front of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Starts off with a bit of a loosener, short and outside off, Kane Williamson hops and crunches it hard to deep point for a single.

Full and turning in, on off, Daryl Mitchell gets a good stride in and keeps it out.

Bowls it from the front of the hand, full and outside off, Daryl Mitchell prods forward to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! Top shot! Fuller, on off and middle, Daryl Mitchell premeditates and goes for the reverse sweep. He executes it to perfection as hits it wide of backward point for a boundary.

Loses his grip as he bowls a low full toss, on middle, Kane Williamson knock it down to long on for a single.

An optimistic shout for LBW but the umpire says no! Dishes out the googly, short and on middle, Kane Williamson gets caught in his crease as he looks to whip it and gets hit high on the back leg. Maheesh Theekshana went up in appeal but did not find much support from the rest.

Nicely bowled! Tossed-up delivery, outside off, Kane Williamson gets a good stride in to defend but the ball keeps straight and goes past his outside edge.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Full and straying on the pads, Daryl Mitchell does not miss out as he flicks it aerially off his pads to the deep square leg fence for a boundary.

Fullish delivery, on off, Daryl Mitchell drives it firmly but straight to mid on.

SIX! Launched down the ground! Dushmantha Chameera delivers it on a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell puts the dancing shoes on and swings through the line to clear the long off fence for a maximum.

Short of a length, on off, Daryl Mitchell looks to use his feet again and pats it towards mid on.

Half a shout, turned down! Keeps it in the channel, on a good length, Daryl Mitchell gives the charge and looks to play at it but gets beaten on the outside edge. There is a noise though and Dushmantha Chameera is the only one that looks interested. Kusal Mendis has a long thought and decides not to review.

Edgy! Shortish delivery, in the channel, Kane Williamson hops to punch it through the off side but gets an outside edge that beats the diving Angelo Mathews to his right at wide slip. A single taken.

Flatter and quicker, on middle, Daryl Mitchell pushes it from the crease towards mid on.

Missed out! Maheesh Theekshana loses his grip and bowls a waist-high full toss, Daryl Mitchell premeditates as he goes for the switch hit again. He gets a bit surprised and fails to get it away as he picks out the man at backward point.

FOUR! Daryl Mitchell is away! Looped up by Maheesh Theekshana, just outside off, Daryl Mitchell reaches out in front and is quick to pull out the reverse sweep. He controls it well and gets it wide of short third man for a boundary.

OUT! CAUGHT! The move to persist with Maheesh Theekshana pays off for Kusal Mendis and Sri Lanka! This is bowled much slower, fuller and on off, Rachin Ravindra gets down on one knee and sees that mid on is inside the circle. He angles his bat face to get it over that man but does not get a proper connection or the elevation. Rachin hits it flat and towards mid off where Dhananjaya de Silva reacts quickly to his right and completes the catch near his chest. New Zealand have now lost both their set batters.

Quicker through the air, short and turning in, on middle, Kane Williamson shuffles a bit and pushes it through mid on for a run.

Darts this one back in, short and on middle, Rachin Ravindra gives himself room and punches it through mid off for a single.

A wicket-maiden from Dushmantha Chameera! Lands it on a good length, in the channel on off, Kane Williamson tries to force it through the off side but closes the bat face a bit early and ends up mishitting it back to the bowler.

Chameera continues to bowl on that nagging length, just outside off, Kane Williamson hops by lifting his back leg and punches it along the ground to cover-point.

Short of a length, around off, Kane Williamson stands tall and pushes it firmly on the bounce to backward point.

At 143.1 clicks, on the fourth stump line, on a good length, Kane Williamson allows the ball to come to him and steers it late towards gully.

OUT! TAKEN! Dushmantha Chameera gets his reward! Devon Conway was looking a bit frustrated after that blow and he departs now. Keeps it on a good length, zoning in at the stumps, Devon Conway wants to put Chameera off his line and length and gives the charge. He moves leg side as well to free his arms to go through the off side. The bat twists in his hands and he ends up miscuing it straight to Dhananjaya de Silva at mid-wicket who takes a low catch. A much-needed breakthrough for Sri Lanka.

On a good length, on middle and leg, the ball gets a bit big on Devon Conway who takes the bottom hand off to dab it in front of mid-wicket.

Fired in, much fuller, at the stumps, Devon Conway plays it from the crease towards long on and keeps the strike.

Drags his length back and bowls it on middle, knocked down to long on for a single..

A bit quicker and flatter, on off, Rachin Ravindra hangs back and pushes it in front of short extra cover.

FOUR! Short and punished! Maheesh Theekshana drags it down, short and around off, Rachin Ravindra is quick to pick the length again and rocks back to pull it over mid-wicket for an easy boundary.

Angles it back into the batter, on a length, Rachin Ravindra tucks it in front of mid-wicket.

Bowls the off break, full and turning away, on middle, Rachin Ravindra gets behind the line and pushes it back to the bowler.

Seaming away, on a good length this time, Devon Conway gets on his toes to ride on top of the bounce and jams it down on the off side. Chameera has consistently hit the upper half of the bat of these two Kiwi batters.

At 136 clicks, on a hard length, on off, Devon Conway tries to get on the front foot but gets a bit taken aback by the extra bounce and adjusts well to dab it down.

Width on offer outside off, full in length, Rachin Ravindra throws his hands at the delivery and drives it towards deep cover for a single.

SIX! BOOM! Dushmantha Chameera serves it on a back of a length, on off, Rachin Ravindra picks the length early and gets his front leg out of the way. He pulls it off the front foot and gets it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

Continues to bowl on a tight line and length does Dushmantha Chameera, Rachin Ravindra hops and gets on top of the bounce before dabbing it in front of backward point.

Lands it on a good length, just over middle, Rachin Ravindra watches it all the way through and taps it from right under his eyes towards point.

Quicker and flatter outside off, punched away off the back foot but straight to extra cover. At the end of the first Powerplay, New Zealand are racing along at 73/0!

Slows it up a touch and angles it in full on leg stump, Devon Conway blocks it out.

FOUR! Quick hands from Devon Conway and he gets this one through the infield. A bit too full outside off and sliding onto the bat nicely, Conway thrashes this one through cover-point for the second boundary of the over.

Fired in fuller and on middle stump, Devon Conway blocks it out.

Quicker and flatter around off, Devon Conway gets on the back foot and forces it out toward cover.

FOUR! Short and hammered away! Maheesh Theekshana comes from around the wicket and bowls a quick short one well outside off. Devon Conway latches onto the width and slaps it past point for a boundary.

Good length on off at 141.3 clicks. Rachin Ravindra defends it under his eyeline.

Flush on the gloves and that one has more than just stung Devon Conway! A fraction shorter around leg, shooting up off the deck and Conway gets in an uncomfortable position. Conway looks to fend it away but the ball goes off the gloves down to fine leg and they get a single.

On a good length around leg stump, flicked straight to square leg.

Hits the bat hard and Devon Conway feels that one! Bowled on a hard length over off, Conway hangs back and looks to defend it with soft hands and does so as well but gets jarred a bit on the gloves.

SAFE! This is potched up on off stump, Rachin Ravindra gets on the front foot and bunts it out to mid off before taking off for the quick single. The fielder there, Dilshan Madushanka picks up the ball and scores a direct-hit at the bowler's end. The replays show that Rachin did well enough to slide his bat in and is comfortably safe.

Starts from over the wicket and bowls it on a hard length over middle and leg at 142.4 clicks. Rachin Ravindra gets right behind the line of the ball and blocks it out on the deck.

Fuller and on the stumps, Rachin Ravindra comes forward and eases it down to long off for one.

Flatter delivery on the stumps, Rachin Ravindra leans on and keeps it out.

FOUR! Through the off side now! Quicker and shorter around off, Rachin Ravindra rocks back and clears the front leg before hammering it through the cover region for a boundary. Rachin has now become the leading run-scorer in thsi tournament.

SIX! The sound off the bat was music to the ears! This is tossed up around off, Rachin Ravindra gets down on one knee, picks it up and slogs it handsomely over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Fires this one into middle, Rachin Ravindra blocks it out.

Tosses this one up, full and around off, Devon Conway drives it away to wide long off and picks up a single.

Beaten! Full and outside off, this one seams away off the deck. Rachin Ravindra looks for the cover drive but is well beaten.

Slightly fuller and angling it into middle, Devon Conway looks to work it leg side but ends up just easing it past the bowler for a quick run.

On the shorter side and angled into middle and leg, Devon Conway keeps it out toward mid on.

FOUR! Whipped away for back-to-back boundaries! Too full on middle and leg, slower too, Devon Conway gets the front leg out of the way and whips it away well in front of mid-wicket for another boundary. The 50 is also up for New Zealand!

FOUR! Crunched away for another boundary! Overpitched outside off, Devon Conway plants his front leg forward and punches it through the cover region for a boundary.

Fuller in length and on off, shaping away a touch, Devon Conway gets on the front foot and hits it hard toward mid off.

Flatter and pushed through onto middle and leg, Devon Conway dabs it down in front of mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up full and outside off, Devon Conway creams the cover drive but finds the man on the edge of the circle.

Floated up on middle, angling in a bit, Rachin Ravindra looks for the big shot again but ends up chipping it over wide mid off for a single.

SIX! BANG! Tossed-up delivery, full and outside off, Rachin Ravindra goes inside-out and lofts it stylishly over the wide long off fence for a maximum.

On a length and angling onto the pads, worked away off the pads to deep square leg for a single.

Starts with a bit of a drag down from around the wicket. This is bowled around off and Rachin Ravindra forces it off the back foot down to long on for a single.

On a good length over the stumps, Devon Conway solidly defends it out. 14 off that over, a good one for the Kiwis.

FOUR! A third boundary in the over and Devon Conway is starting to really fire now. Banged in short over middle and leg, Conway gets on top of the bounce and pulls it away through backward square leg for a boundary.

FOUR! The timing on that one was unreal! Pitches this one up on middle, angling it in, Devon Conway leans on and just jabs at it gently looking to pinch a single to mid on but the ball fizzes across the turf and beats the diving fielder at mid on to run away into the fence.

Shortish length, angled in at the body, Devon Conway nudges it down around the corner and picks up a couple of runs.

EDGED AND FOUR! Pitched up in the channel around off, shaping a bit in the air. Devon Conway with a tentative cover drive away from the body and his feet go nowhere. The outside edge is induced and the ball goes off the outside edge in between the keeper and a wider first slip into the third man fence.

Good length, angling in from middle and just straightening a bit. Devon Conway is pressed back and has to defend it back onto the deck.

Flatter delivery at the stumps, Rachin Ravindra gets on the front foot and pushes it out toward cover.

The carrom-ball now, at 102 clicks and coming in sharply into off and middle, Rachin Ravindra gets pushed onto the back foot but manages to keep it out on the off side.

Very full on middle, Devon Conway drives it firmly down to long off and turns the strike over.

Gives it some more air this time and throws it up around off, Rachin Ravindra manages to get to the pitch of the ball and strokes it down to long off for a single.

Floats it up a bit, full and around off, Rachin Ravindra drives it along the ground and to the man at short covers.

Flatter one from around the wicket, bowled at 100 clicks and around off. Rachin Ravindra leans on and eases it toward cover.

Back of a length around off, Devon Conway stylishly jabs it off the back foot but straight to mid on.

Pitched up again around off, driven on the up but can't beat mid off to his left this time around.

FOUR! That will fill Devon Conway with confidence! Overpitched on off stump, looking for some swing, Conway just leans into it and drives it straight back past the bowler into the long off fence for a boundary.

Lovely delivery! Dilshan Madushanka is very interested in this one but the keeper, not so much. Kusal Mendis does review it though eventually. This is served on a perfect length and on a tighter line around off stump, leaving the left-hander off the deck. Devon Conway is pushed back and has to play at it but the ball zips past the outside edge and the UltraEdge confirms daylight between bat and ball. A review wasted by Sri Lanka!

Hits the deck hard and angles it in from around off, Devon Conway remains a bit tentative and just jams it down in front of covers.

Back of a length and outside off, Devon Conway stays back and plays it late down toward backward point.

FOUR! Thrashed away! Full and wide outside off, there to be hit, Rachin Ravindra frees his arms and firms it through cover-point for his first boundary of the game.

Shorter in length and around off, played off the back foot toward covers.

Misfield! Flatter one, slightly short and outside off, Rachin Ravindra gets on the back foot and chops it down to the left of backward point where Charith Asalanka looks to get behind the ball but is beaten by the spin and Rachin gets another brace.

Full and quick at the pads, this is clipped away nicely behind square leg and Rachin Ravindra gets off the mark with a couple of easy runs.

Flatter one at 102 clicks and drifting away from middle, Rachin Ravindra stands tall and pats it back to the bowler.

Starts with a fullish delivery on leg stump, curving it away from the left-hander. Rachin Ravindra gets forward and blocks it out.

A dot to end the first over of the chase, just the boundary off it! Good length outside off and shaping away, Devon Conway lets it through to the keeper.

FOUR! Devon Conway and New Zealand are up and running! A half-tracker around off, Conway gets on top of the bounce and pulls it down well in front of square on the leg side and gets enough on it to take it to the ropes.

Edgy! Pitches this one much further up and bowls it outside off. Devon Conway looks to drive it on the up but plays a loose shot away from the body and gets it uppishly toward point.

On a hard length around off and angling back into the left-handers. Devon Conway hangs back and jams it down on the deck.

Pulls the length back this time, keeps it in the channel around off and extracts a bit of an extra bounce. Devon Conway hops back and is taken aback a bit but keeps it down on the deck.

Starts off with a fuller delivery from over the wicket, bowled in the channel. Devon Conway lets the ball come on and blocks it out in front of point.