Christchurch: The New Zealand-Sri Lanka 1st Cricket Test, which will decide India’s final chances in the World Test Championship, has come to an exciting end. Chasing a target of 285 runs, New Zealand came into bat at the end of the fourth day at 28 for the loss of one wicket. Tom Latham with 11 runs and Kane Williamson with seven runs at the crease. New Zealand need 257 more runs to win with nine wickets and one day remaining.
Earlier, Angelo Mathews’ smashing century gave Lanka the best score in the second innings. Apart from Mathews who scored 115 runs, Dinesh Chandimal (42) and Dhananjaya D’Silva (47) also shone in the Lankan line-up.
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Sri Lanka lost the wicket of Prabhat Jayasuriya at the start of the fourth day when they came to the crease with a score of 84-3. But in the fifth wicket, Chandimal and Mathews put together a century to take Lanka out. Mathews shared a 60-run partnership with Dhananjaya D’Silva after Chandimal’s dismissal.
Tickner took four, Matt Henry three and Southee two wickets for New Zealand. Earlier, Sri Lanka scored 355 runs in the first innings while New Zealand scored 373 runs. Sri Lanka need to win both Tests against New Zealand to keep their World Test Championship final chances alive. On the other hand, India can secure the final if they win the last Test against Australia. India’s final chances will depend on the outcome of the New Zealand-Sri Lanka series if the final Test is drawn or lost.
Last Updated Mar 12, 2023, 11:13 AM IST