The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
So, with that, we come to the end of this pulsating series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka! New Zealand wrap the series up but the score line can flatter to deceive as Sri Lanka were highly impressive in both the Tests. Just that they could not win those crucial moments to stay alive in and win the series. That will be all from the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Do join us for the ODI series between these teams that starts on 25 March, Saturday. This is the pair of Bidipto and Divyansh taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda!
New Zealand win by an innings and 58 runs, and they take the series 2-0.
New Zealand: 580-4 dec beat Sri Lanka: 164 and 358 (f/o)
Dhananjaya de Silva 98 (185) | Dinesh Chandimal 62 (92) Tim Southee 3/51 (27.0) | Blair Tickner 3/84 (26.0)
Player of the Match: Henry Nicholls Player of the Series: Kane Williamson
After a disappointing start to the session for Sri Lanka with the loss of Dhananjaya de Silva's wicket, some dogged resistance from the tail inspired hopes of perhaps a miraculous save!
Kasun Rajitha was the man holding fort from one end against all the bowlers. His solid defence and intelligent leaves kept New Zealand at bay for 110 deliveries! He was ably supported in his work by Prabath Jayasuriya first and then Lahiru Kumara, who played out 45 balls each to frustrate the Blackcaps.
The New Zealand pacers were feeling the effect of having to bowl well over 200 overs in this innings. The legs were tiring. But the short balls kept coming to keep the opposition batters pegged back on the crease. Michael Bracewell from the other end, chipped away with two important wickets.
Conditions were blustery as the Wellington wind kept picking up from time to time. But somehow, the Sri Lankan tail managed to play out over 180 minutes losing nine wickets. New Zealand lost all three of their reviews as well!
New Zealand did take the additional half-an-hour but light started to come in question. With the light meter out, the umpires deemed it fit for the pacers to continue.
Asitha Fernando, like his fellow Sri Lankan bowlers, put up a solid resistance of his own to try and deny New Zealand victory tonight. The weather for tomorrow was not the best with rain looming large right through the day.
But Tim Southee, the New Zealand skipper, was there to finish the job! He finally found the outside edge of Kasun Rajitha's bat to carry to second slip and the steely resolve from the Sri Lankan quick was broken! Southee accounted for the wicket of Kumara too.
142
overs
358/10score
0
0
0
0
0
W
runs
Kasun Rajitha*
20(110)
Asitha Fernando
0(15)
Tim Southee
3/50
141.6 Tim Southee to Kasun Rajitha, THAT IS THAT! THE MATCH IS NEW ZEALAND'S FINALLY AND TODAY ITSELF! Slightly short outside off. Rajitha tries to tap it away to backward point on the back foot. But it takes the outside edge and flies to the left of second slip. Kane Williamson does really well to pull off a sharp catch and with that, the resistance from Kasun Rajitha ends! New Zealand win the Test series 2-0!
Kasun Rajitha c Kane Williamson b Tim Southee 20 (110b, 1x4, 0x6)
141.5 Tim Southee to Kasun Rajitha, fuller outside off from wide of the crease. Rajitha leaves this nicely from the front foot.
141.4 Tim Southee to Kasun Rajitha, over the wicket, good length ball outside off. Pushed down to backward point from the back foot.
141.3 Tim Southee to Kasun Rajitha, short down the leg-side. Rajitha steps inside the line to leave it alone.
141.2 Tim Southee to Kasun Rajitha, good length ball on middle. Rajitha stays back but blocks it to short mi-wicket with the straight bat.
141.1 Tim Southee to Kasun Rajitha, short at the body. It hits Rajitha on the chest guard as he takes the hands away from that line on the back foot.
Southee took a review but they lost it again and they have none left now. We are done with the scheduled overs for the day, but the umpires allow an extra 30 minutes. They only have 10-15 minutes though as bad light might come into play.