Sri Lanka vs New Zealand commentary

END OF MATCH Sri Lanka win, convincingly, with two full days and an evening session to spare. The visitors never really looked like they were going to win, but when they came out this morning they would never have thought the game would end before Tea. Sri Lanka's chase has been sublime, with Paranavitana and Karunaratne ensuring things get done quickly, with the latter picking up his maiden half-century in the process. A solid performance all round for the hosts, and a solid victory to end off with.

Over 19.3 Bracewell 4-0-4 Beautiful twist and turn as Karu dispatches the bowler for four past a sprinting fine-leg. Karu hooks the next one up, again toward fine leg, and McCullum can't do anything about it - four runs! AND THAT'S IT!

Over 18 Williamson 0-1-2-0-2-1 85/0 - Karu gets his maiden half-century - decent achievement given he got a duck in his first-innings debut. A good over for Sri Lanka, just 8 to win now.

Off Breaks Kane Williamson gets a bowl...

To Win Just 14 runs needed to win now...

Over 17 Bracewell 0-0-4-1-0-0 79/0 - Para gets one pitched short and wide, he's equal to it with a high cut up and over cover for four - a bit of urgency now as you feel they're ready to get things wrapped up sooner rather than later. Tea isn't too far away, about 15+- minutes.

Over 16 Patel 0-4-1-0-1-3 74/0 - Para decides to go for the slog sweep and picks his spot beautifully - four runs! Para gets a single followed by a single for Karu. Para flicks the last ball through midwicket and collects a healthy three from the effort. Ever so close to victory, 19 runs to go.

Over 15 Bracewell 0-0-0-2-4-0 65/0 - So, Bracewell is back and there's no sign of Southee having a bowl. Not sure why, may as let the wicketkeeper have a bowl then too? Anyway, Karu grabs a four as he helps one off the thigh to the fine-leg boundary.

Over 14 Patel 0-1-0-0-0-0 59/0 - Just a single from the over as Patel returns to action after the short drinks break.

Over 13 Franklin 1-0-0-0-1-1 58/0 - Tidy of from Franklin, just three singles from it. Sri Lanka now needing just 35 to wrap things up and go home early...

Over 12 Patel 0-0-0-0-0-0 55/0 - A maiden over, would you believe it. They know they've got this in the bag, so why not take it easy for an over or so.

Over 11 Franklin 0-0-4-0-0-0 55/ - No clue why, but Franklin continues and gets cut away for four on the third. Karu doesn't feel like he needs to be punished anymore, and takes it easy for the reaminder of the over.

Over 10 Patel 0-0-0-4-0-6 51/0 - Para takes advantage of the shoddy bowling with a four - cut hard behind point. Just when we thought he may take it easy he goes up up up and over for a huge SIX over the bowler's head!

Over 9 Franklin 0-4-4-0-0-0 41/0 - Franklin gets a bowl - you wonder what the point of this actually is, why not just split the total needed between the two batsmen, shake hands and call it a day? Anyway, Karu gets four through square before going for four through midwicket on the very next ball.

Over 8 Patel 0-1-0-0-0-1 33/0 - Jeetan Patel gets a bowl now. Para works a single to square leg. Karu gets one away to short fine leg for another quick one.

Over 7 Boult 0-4-0-0-2-0 31/0 - Stunning four as Karu punches one off the back foot through extra cover for four. Two more for Karu off the fifth as he drives one through the off-side for the couple.

Over 6 Bracewell 0-1-0-1-2-1wd-1 25/0 - Sri Lanka keeping things ticking over as Karu takes a single steering one into the slips, Para gets one behind square, Karu takes another two through midwicket before ending the over with a single down to square leg.

Over 5 Boult 0-2-0wd-0-0-0-0 19/0 - Para gets a couple as he works away one full and pitched on middle - he sends it wide of square leg as they come through for the two.

Over 4 Bracewell 0-0-0-1-0-4 16/0 - A quick single from Para almost ends in misery, but thankfully both batsmen are pretty quick between the wickets and make it through safely. Karu ends the over in style with a four-run boundary. Nicely done. Just 77 needed to win.

Over 3 Boult 0-0-0-4-2-0 11/0 - Boult's second is nicked behind but bounces inches short of first slip - Karu is off the hook this time, lucky! Fine bowling by Boult but there's another outside edge, between the gap in the slips, and that's four more runs.

Over 2 Bracewell 2-0-0-1-1 5/0 - Two from the first of Bracewell's over as Karu gets off the mark. His gloves are terribly bright, he has some kind of lumo-colour coding on four fingers - bit of an eye-sore - perhaps that's to put off the bowler a little? Para gets off the mark too, with a nifty single off the last.

Over 1 Boult 0-0-0-0-0-0 0/0 - No runs yet, this could take some time...

Underway! Karunaratne will face the first ball as Trent Boult takes on the new ball duties.

The Chase So, Sri Lanka need 93 runs to win - it's a case of when rather than if. They're known to chase these kind of totals quite slowly, so don't be surprised if we see a lot of calmness out there... On the other hand, let's hope they get it over and done with quite quickly; they'll want to enjoy the extra time off relaxing I'm sure.

End of Innings Terribly disappointing scorecard from New Zealand, after notching up 221 in the first innings, and only managing 118 this time round. Sri Lanka's bowling was pretty sublime, with Kulasekara picking up a couple - both the show belongs to Rangana Herath who notched up six wickets in his 18 overs this morning. We'll be back shortly with the Sri Lankan chase for victory.

Over 45 Randiv W 118/10 - Edged......and OUT! An outside edge is taken really well against the body by Mahela - Randiv has his second of the innings; and that's that I'm afraid.

Over 44 Herath 0-2-0-0-0-0 118/9 - Not as much as a hit-fest as the last over. Just a couple from this one - van Wyk sweeps to square leg for the only two of the over.

Over 43 Randiv 1-0-0-6-6-0 116/9 - van Wyk collects a single, Boult comes forward, goes down on one knee and smashes it over the top for six! Not done yet, is he, he goes again - SIX MORE! Oh he is stoked with that. Great stuff! Talk about a fighting spirit!

Over 42 Herath 0-0-0-0-0-0 103/9 - A maiden over - Herath has two slips along with a silly point and a short leg in front of the batsman. Desperate to end this innings now.

Over 41 Randiv 0-0-1-0-0-0 103/9 - A single off it - Boult gets one away to midwicket as they take a mid-afternoon stroll.

Over 40 Herath 0-0-0-4-0-0 102/9 - Always nice when there's a four-run boundary against the run of play - van Wyk sends a bad ball from Herath away, he'll be celebrating that one.

Over 39 Randiv 0-0-0-0-1-0 98/9 - Just a single as the visitors hold on, to very little hope...

Over 38 Herath 0-0-1-W-0-0 97/9 - Ah my word! Patel is gone! He faced just one before Karunaratne was handed one right in his stomach - luckily the fielder held on and he's taken a pretty good catch! One more to go, Sri Lanka can smell victory!

Welcome Back We're back underway in Galle; let's see if New Zealand can hold out till tea... tough ask?

Lunch Sri Lanka leave the field to a fantastic applause from those who have come for the morning session - and boy have the been treated to a wicket-fest. New Zealand are practically all but out of this Test already, having lost pretty much all their batsmen by Lunch, they've got very little to offer after Lunch - and if Sri Lanka capitalise, they'll have a total of less than 100 to chase for victory - with two full days still to come. Join us in about 35 minutes for the afternoon session.

Over 37 Randiv 0-0-4-0-4-W 96/8 - Southee is one heck of a determined character, isn't he! He lays into Randiv on the third and sends him packing for four before dishing up another one with a sweep for four! Randiv has had enough though and dishes up a really low slower one, Southee gets the toe of the bat to it but double steps at the same time - another stumping as Jayawardene picks up the rolling balls and removes the bails. My oh my, what and end to the over!

Over 36 Herath 1-0-0-0-0-0 88/7 - Herath's first to Southee is smashed straight into short extra cover who pretty much just gets in the way to stop it going anywhere - but a single is taken anyway.

Over 35 Randiv 0-1-0-6-0-1 87/7 - Almost lunch time, Tim Southee is new to the middle and eventually gets on strike after a single to van Wyk. Southee lofts the third down the ground for six - goodness me, where does that come from?? Now that's going to get Randiv's blood pumping - he doesn't take kindly to tail enders smashing him over the ropes.

Over 34 Herath 0-W-W-0-0-0 79/7 - BOWLED! Clean bowled! New Zealand in all sorts of problems now as Daniel Flynn finds himself packing for an early shower. Good ball from Herath, but it kept low and Flynn didn't see that as he tried to step back and defend it. Oh my word, New Zealand really on the back foot here - literally! Dough Bracewell is the new man to the middle. He doesn't last long, he's caught LBW first up - no need to even look at the umpire for the decision, that's plum! ANOTHER WICKET!

Over 33 Randiv 0-1-0-0-0-0 79/5 - Flynn with a single; cuts it down to point and they stroll through. Randiv is getting a little frustrated - he really wants a wicket and he knows it's coming...

Over 32 Herath 1-0-0-4-0-1 78/5 - Decent timing as Flynn gets his first boundary off a tossed up one which is smashed away for four with a double-step out the crease.

Over 31 Randiv 0-0-1-0-0-0 72/5 - van wyk picks up another single to deep square leg; it's the only run of the over though as Randiv keeps it pretty tight.

Over 30 Herath 0-1-W-0-0-1 71/5 - STUMPED! Franklin skips down the pitch while Jayawardene drops the ball on the stumps - he is so far out, it's scary. An absolute waste of a wicket, now New Zealand are in heaps of trouble - this is not what they would have expected, not at all. Kruger van Wyk comes to the middle; just 30 minutes before lunch. van Wyk is off the mark on the last ball, with a single.

Over 29 Randiv 0-0-0-1-0-0 69/4 - Just a single - Flynn cuts the fourth wide of point as they stroll through for an easy single.

Over 28 Herath 1-0-0-2-1-0 68/4 - Four from the over - Franklin gets one to midwicket, while Flynn takes a couple on the fourth and ends the run scoring with a single off the next ball.

Over 27 Randiv 2-0-0-0-0-0 64/4 - Finally a break for Kula as Randiv gets a turn to turn it. Not much going on there as Flynn picks up just a couple wide of cover off the first of the over.

Over 26 Herath 2-W-0-1-0-1 62/4 - Two for Taylor as he tucks it down to fine leg on the first. Next up Taylor played for a bit of spin, but there was none, and the ball has struck his pads dead on the stump-line. That's a WICKET! Pity, he was starting to look pretty good. James Franklin comes to the middle, now he has some crisis management to do... A short leg, slip and a leg slip - Franklin is crowded at the crease. Time to soak up the pressure! He's off the mark pretty much immediately working one away on the leg side.

Over 25 Kulasekara 0-1-1-0-0-0 58/3 - He's still bowling, and some reckon with his kind of stamina he could actually bowl all day long - but I'm not too sure about that, surely he'll get a little tired at some point? Maybe the hosts reckon that with him plugging away at one end he'll eventually nab another wicket. Flynn gets a single on the second. Some confusion with the batsmen on the third as Flynn is sent back by Taylor after looking for a second run - everyone's safe though, so no need for panic.

Over 24 Herath 0-1-0-0-0-0 56/3 - Herath continues on after the drinks break. Flynn tucks the second wide of backward short leg as he picks up a single. Taylor takes no chances and sees out the over.

Over 23 Kulasekara 0-0-0-0-0-1 55/3 - Another over, another single. Flynn sends it off toward midwicket after seeing out the first five of the over. He certainly has some desire to score as he retains the strike.

Over 22 Herath 0-0-1-0-0-0 54/3 - Just a single from the over - Taylor pushes it down to long-on and they come through quite easily for the single.

Over 21 Kulasekara 0-0-0-1-2-0 53/3 - Three from the over. Flynn picks up one down to midwicket and Taylor scores a couple wide of point. Few runs coming here and there, New Zealand just need to keep this up and build from here with Taylor and Flynn.

Over 20 Herath 1-0-1-1-0-0 50/3 - Taylor gets one on the off side, Flynn steals a run on the on-side and Taylor paddles a single down to fine leg. An LBW shout on the fifth is turned down as the Umpire judges it having hit the bat first, and on the last of the over a stumping is turned down by the third Umpire after Taylor is shown on the replay to be well within his crease.

Over 19 Kulasekara 0-0-0-0-0-0 46/3 - Yet another maiden - Flynn taking no chances as he eyes out Kula's ninth over.

Over 18 Herath 0-0-0-0-0-0 46/3 - Another maiden, Herath gets his morning underway with a pretty solid opener.

Change of Bowling Rangana Herath will get a bowl...

Over 17 Kulasekara 0-0-0-W-0-0 46/3 - The reserve umpire takes a jog out with a black box. It's opened up in front of the players and new balls are revealed - well not entirely new balls, but newer balls in better shape than the current ones. Eventually we're back underway after the ball-change-delay. Oh my goodness! Kula aims one down the leg side and Williamson is so unlucky as he tries to play it across his body and knicks it on the way to Jayawardene who takes a superb dive to his left. That's it for the number three, New Zealand lose another, and delve into a slight spot of bother...

Over 16 Eranga 1-0-0-1-4-0 46/2 - Seems that last over was the start of the runs as Taylor picks up a single towards cover. Williamson folds a low one off the hip away to find leg for a single too. Taylor drives forward but gets it strangely past point after Eranga floats it in - there's no stopping that as it races away on this dry outfield for four. Every run is crucial, these lads know that.

Over 15 Kulasekara 4-0-1-0-0-0 40/2 - Taylor drives one through cover, brilliantly timed, four runs - he wasn't trying to hit that one too hard as he picks the gap on this slow pitch and sends it on the way for four. Finally, some runs to get the morning underway. It look a total of 22-minutes to get a run this morning, hopefully not long before we get the next one...

Over 14 Eranga 0-0-0-0-0-0 35/2 - That's another maiden, no surprise really. New Zealand will want to frustrate the seamers immensely until such time as the spinners return for the runs to flow a bit quicker. Well, they even one run an over will make things flow a bit quicker..

Over 13 Kulasekara 0-W-0-0-0-0 35/2 - Shorter from Kulu, but angled in, as Guptil tries to drive one he probably shouldn't touch but instead it goes in under the bat and shatters the stumps - WICKET! Ross Taylor will join Williamson in the middle now. And it's another maiden -

Over 12 Eranga 0-0-0-0-0-0 35/1 - No spin yet as the skipper offers more pace in the early morning as Eranga opens from the opposite end. Eranga has only played one test before this, in the 2011 season when Sri Lanka hosted Australia in Colombo - he took five wickets over both innings back then - just thought you'd like to know...Another maiden.

Over 11 Kulasekara 0-0-0-0-0-0 35/1 - The morning session gets underway as Kulasekara opens to Guptil. Not very much carry in this pitch at all as the first three stay pretty low and struggle to go through to the Keeper. A mixture of bat and pad on the fourth gets a half-hearted appeal from the hosts, but the Umpire rightly declines. Maiden over.

Conditions It's another sunny bright day in Galle and the pitch looks in pretty good shape for New Zealand to grow this lead.

Greetings! Hello and welcome to day three of the first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, where honours are pretty much even after two days of wicket-taking in Galle.

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