With few hours left in Day 5’s play at Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, India qualified for World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final. Defending champions New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in a Test that went down to the last ball at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. While there is enough talk about Bazball approach, Kane Williamson’s century, Daryl Mitchell’s gutsy 81-run knock helped the hosts chase down 285-run target in a game that went down to the wire and take a lead in first of two-Test series.
New Zealand’s three-wicket win means that Sri Lanka are out of WTC final race and India will play Australia at The Oval, London from June 7 to June 11.
The final 15 overs
After the final drinks break of Day 5 in the third session, New Zealand needed 101 runs to win from 15 overs. Mitchell was well set and was scoring at a better strike rate than former skipper Williamson. He accelerated after getting to his half-century. The all-rounder hit Prabath Jayasuriya for two sixes in an over to up the ante.
But Asitha Fernando ended Mitchell's knock. Mitchell dragged the ball on to the stumps. He scored 81 runs from 86 deliveries including three fours and four sixes. When Mitchell got out, New Zealand needed 53 runs from 49 deliveries.
In his next over, Fernando ended Tom Blundell's short stay at the crease. The wicketkeeper-batter could score just three runs from five deliveries. At the time of his wicket, the hosts needed 47 runs from 39 deliveries.
Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne had spread the field in an attempt to save boundaries but Kiwis were quick between the wickets and every double was cheered by the fans. Williamson got to his century from 177 deliveries. Michael Bracewell tried to accelerate but got caught at deep mid-wicket.
Skipper Tim Southee came out to bat. In the final two overs, 15 runs were needed. Southee went for a big hit and almost caused a collision. After his wicket, New Zealand needed 12 runs from nine deliveries. Henry who scored a crucial 72 in the first innings did not waste a delivery.
Final over
In the final over, New Zealand needed eight runs to win. Williamson played the first one towards long-on and managed just a single as he slipped at the non-striker’s end. Fernando bowled a wide yorker and Henry managed just a single towards long-off. On the third ball, Williamson shuffled across and worked the ball towards mid-wicket. He wanted a couple of runs but the throw from the deep was accurate and Henry was caught short of the crease at non-striker’s end.
With five runs needed off the three deliveries, Williamson stood deep in the crease. Fernando bowled one wide and Williamson pierced the gap behind square and raced towards the boundary. Fernando followed it up with a short delivery that was not called wide by the umpire. He bowled another bouncer for the last ball but it missed Williamson’s bat. They scampered for a single, Niroshan Dickwella missed the stumps but Fernando didn’t. Williamson put in the dive and made it home to guide New Zealand to a famous win by three wickets. Williamson remained unbeaten for 121 off 194 deliveries.
Delayed start, early reprieve
Earlier, New Zealand started the day with 28/1 on the board after a delayed start. A minimum of 53 overs were to be bowled in the day. Williamson survived a few close calls early on. Jayasuriya got the first wicket as Tom Latham (24) chopped one on to the stumps. Henry Nichollas scored freely from the start. Meanwhile Dicwella dropped Williamson's catch when he was batting on 33. Jayasuriya struck again to dismiss Nicholls for a 24-ball 20. Fernando kept troubling Williamson. Mitchell was cautious at the start but accelerated once set. The partnership laid the foundation for the chase which went right down to the wire.
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