A defeat in the first Test saw Sri Lanka exiting the WTC final race. They followed it up by another loss and suffered a white-wash. Now the focus shifts towards the ODIs. Sri Lanka are fighting for direct qualification to the mega event (ODI World Cup), which is to happen later in the year.The scenario isn&rsquo;t different to what it was at the start of the Test series. They had to white-wash their opponents to qualify for the WTC finals, and here as well, they need to win the series 3-0 to topple West Indies and South Africa.The hosts have no pressure on them as they are sitting pretty at second in the table. However, their home record is at stake. In the last five bilateral ODI series, New Zealand haven&rsquo;t lost a single one. Interestingly, apart from the India series (1-0) in 2022, they have white-washed each of their opponents in the remaining four.Ground detailsThe Eden Park, Auckland, is certainly one of the smallest grounds across the globe. One end of the straight boundary is less than 50 meters, and the covers to the right-handers and midwicket to left-handers is just above 50 meters.Keeping in mind the small boundaries, teams in the last five matches have all chosen to bowl first. However, those dimensions can be deceptive in the elongated limited over format. Which is why, teams batting first have won three out of the last five.In terms of wickets percentage, pacers have dominated that by picking up 80.6 percent of the wickets as compared to 19.4 percent. There is nothing to differentiate between the both when it comes to strike rate. Pacers have snaffled a wicket every 36.7 balls and spinners have done it in 36.6 balls. &nbsp;Suggested Team&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1679678873541-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from <a href="https://www.cricket.com/fantasy-research-center/213916/nz-vs-sl-1st-odi-sri-lanka-tour-of-new-zealand-2023/create-team" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cricket.com&rsquo;s Fantasy Research Centre</a>. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.Captaincy suggestionFor small leagues: <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/10167/tom-latham/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tom Latham</a> (capt), <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/65027/wanindu-hasaranga/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wanindu Hasaranga</a> (vice-capt)For grand leagues: <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/66368/pathum-nissanka/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pathum Nissanka</a> (capt), <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/60544/matt-henry/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt Henry</a> (vice-capt)Stats that matter-In the last 10 home ODIs, Tom Latham has scored 611 runs at an average of 122.2 and a strike rate of 112.5. He has hit three centuries and two half-centuries, with 145* against India, being his best. Overall, in home ODIs since 2019, among batters who have played 10+ innings, Latham&rsquo;s average of 82.7 is the best.-In the last 10 ODIs against New Zealand in their backyard, Sri Lanka have managed to win only two. One ended as a no-result and the remaining seven were losses. In the last four matches in New Zealand, they have lost all four.-Post the 2019 ODI World Cup, New Zealand have played 11 bilateral series and have lost only three. All the three came in an away bilateral series. Twice against Australia, and one against India in 2023.Grand league punts-Pathum Nissanka has been the flag bearer for Sri Lanka in ODIs since 2022, in the batting department. The batter has scored 563 runs at an average of 51.2. Among the Lankan batters who have scored 50+ runs, only two batters average 40+ and Nissanka is the only to average 50+.-It&rsquo;s not only in Tests, Matt Henry has been in great form in the ODIs as well. In 2022, the right-arm quick scalped 18 wickets at an average of 23.2 and a strike rate of 29.5. Alongside Trent Boult, Henry was the leading wicket taker for New Zealand last year.Top Criclytics predictions<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1679678839064-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"> Probable XINew Zealand: Finn Allen, Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c &amp; wk), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Blair Tickner, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Ish SodhiSri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Mahesh TheeksahanaPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Here are a few tips that could help you create your fantasy XI for the first ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka

Tom Latham

Wanindu Hasaranga

Pathum Nissanka

Matt Henry

Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2023

New Zealand

Sri Lanka

Fantasy Preview: Bank on batters and all-rounders

Ex-South Africa Under-19 captain <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57392/chad-bowes/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chad Bowes</a> and all-rounder <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/66053/rachin-ravindra/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rachin Ravindra</a> will make their One-Day International (ODI) debuts for New Zealand against Sri Lanka when the three-match series starts Saturday (March 25).Bowes is set to open the batting for the Blackcaps at Auckland&#39;s Eden Park more than a decade after skippering South Africa&#39;s juniors at the 2012 Under-19 World Cup before moving to New Zealand.Ravindra has already played three Tests and six T20 Internationals (T20I) for New Zealand.&quot;Both guys have earned their spots through performances in the domestic white-ball arena, so we&#39;re really excited about the opportunity,&quot; said New Zealand captain Tom Latham.After whitewashing Sri Lanka 2-0 in the Tests, <a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/tom-latham-to-lead-odi-squad-against-sri-lanka-1678763289645" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Zealand have released several stars</a> including Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Devon Conway to their Indian Premier League (IPL) teams.The sides are looking to break their ODI losing streaks -- New Zealand and Sri Lanka both lost all three ODIs on separate tours of India in January. Sri Lanka head into the New Zealand series needing to win all three matches to claim a direct spot at the ODI World Cup in India later this year. New Zealand have already qualified.Sri Lanka have included experienced former Test captain Angelo Mathews in their white-ball squad. Captain Dasun Shanaka is confident that Sri Lanka can win in Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton over the next week to avoid having to play in an ODI World Cup qualifying tournament.&quot;It&#39;s possible. It depends on the day. New Zealand is a good side and we aren&#39;t taking anything for granted. We need to do the hard work to win the series,&quot; the all-rounder added.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

After whitewashing Sri Lanka 2-0 in the Tests, New Zealand have released several stars including Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Devon Conway to their IPL teams

Rachin Ravindra

Chad Bowes

Rachin Ravindra, Chad Bowes set for ODI debut against Sri Lanka

Having already potentially lost their skipper <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63961/shreyas-iyer/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shreyas Iyer</a> for the entirety of the season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are now sweating profusely on the fitness of talisman pacer <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63719/lockie-ferguson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lockie Ferguson</a>, who has been ruled out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring strain.Ferguson, who was brought in prior to the auction by KKR (around the range of INR 10 crore in an all-cash deal), was scheduled to feature in the first ODI against Sri Lanka at Eden Park, on March 25, before traveling to India and joining the Knight Riders&rsquo; camp.However, after suffering a hamstring injury and failing a fitness test, he will no longer feature in the ODI series versus the Lankans.The injury was confirmed by BlackCaps&rsquo; bowling coach Shane Jurgensen.While the extent and the severity of the injury is unknown, KKR will be hoping for it to be a slight strain and nothing more. Should the injury prove to be a serious one, it will leave Tim Southee as the only available overseas seamer for the first few games of their campaign.Iyer being ruled out of the entirety of IPL 2023 is something that&rsquo;&rsquo;s not confirmed, yet, but with him certain to be unfit for the first few matches of the season, the franchise is expected to name a stand-in captain. Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine are believed to be the front-runners, although there&rsquo;s a chance that KKR might also look at Shakib al Hasan as a potential candidate.&nbsp;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

After suffering a hamstring injury and failing a fitness test, the speedster will no longer feature in the ODI series versus Sri Lanka

Lockie Ferguson

Indian Premier League, 2023

Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR sweating on Lockie Ferguson’s fitness as pacer suffers hamstring injury

<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57594/henry-nicholls/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Henry Nicholls</a> has played 54 Test matches for New Zealand, and will more than likely add to this tally.Here&rsquo;s the thing, though: it could very well have stopped at 53. Or 44. Or 34. Heck, even at 9.But it didn&rsquo;t.&nbsp;New Zealand having a limited talent pool has played a part in Nicholls continuing to be a Test regular. As has NZC&rsquo;s obsession to give incumbents the longest of ropes possible before dumping them.But why Nicholls is still a part of the Test side isn&rsquo;t only down to the above-mentioned reasons.&nbsp;Nicholls is still a Test regular in 2023 because he simply has mastered the art of playing career-saving knocks, like nobody else has in the history of this sport.***Nicholls entered the second Test against Sri Lanka in Wellington with a realistic possibility of it being his last &mdash; in a while, if not ever.&nbsp;In the 15 innings that preceded the Test, he&rsquo;d amassed only 250 runs at an average of 16.66.&nbsp;To give some context, among 42 players who&rsquo;d batted at least 15 times in this period, only Tim Southee (14.31), Kagiso Rabada (13.66), Jack Leach (12.20) and Khaled Ahmed (0.50) fared worse.<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1679297528159-articleimg" style="width: 800px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">He wasn&rsquo;t simply bad. He was spectacularly bad.We all know what followed: Nicholls smashed a double-ton, his first-ever in Test cricket (what a time to do so!), and broke the rut in style. In the process, he ended up saving his Test career. Again.The &lsquo;again&rsquo; is being emphasized here for a reason &mdash; the Houdini act in Wellington was the fourth-time Nicholls, in his 54-Test career, had pulled off something special while on the verge of being dropped.We&rsquo;ve heard of batters playing career-saving turnaround knocks once, maybe twice. Here was Nicholls doing it for a fourth time.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1679297480018-articleimg" style="width: 800px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">The first of the four came on 12th January, 2017, against Bangladesh in Wellington.&nbsp;Some may perhaps argue that calling this a career-saving knock is a bit of a stretch, but after a middling start to his Test career, averaging 24.23 after nine Tests with two fifty-plus scores in 14 innings, Nicholls was in desperate need of a score.&nbsp;Particularly having scored more than 30 only twice in his previous 12 innings, both coming in the same Test against South Africa in Centurion.It wasn&rsquo;t a dashing double-ton or a match-defining half-century. It was a gruelingly slow 53 on a flat wicket in a team score of 539.&nbsp;In the context of the match, it was important but not game-turning. In the context of his career, though, it was vital, for it ensured he&rsquo;d get at least one more go.And of course he made it count, scoring 98 in the second Test of the series in Christchurch before notching up a maiden Test ton two months later to seal his spot in the side.The ton against South Africa, in fact, would prove to be the start of a golden phase for Nicholls in Tests &mdash; he would end up averaging 60.47 across a 13-Test period, scoring a total of five tons, the most impressive of the lot being an unbeaten 126 in the third innings against Pakistan away in the UAE.&nbsp;***In an ideal world, Nicholls&rsquo; dream run turns out to be more than just a wild purple patch, and he goes on to become a rock in the BlackCaps&rsquo; middle-order. But you and I both know that&rsquo;s not how sport or life works.As it would turn out, Nicholls would go on to endure a horrifying 16 months post the aforementioned golden period, averaging 20.33 and posting no fifty-plus scores across 13 innings.By now, Nicholls had enough credit in the bank, so the management were willing to give him a pretty long rope. But at the same time, New Zealand were gunning for a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the last thing they needed was a passenger in the batting unit. &nbsp;Then there was also Will Young seriously knocking on the door: during the same period, Young averaged 60.73 in 10 first-class matches, smashing three hundreds. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;So when Nicholls entered the second Test of the series against West Indies, in December 2020, having scored 7 in the only innings he batted in the first, there was genuine pressure on him to make runs.Another failure and he probably does not make it to the starting XI of the Pakistan Tests.But Nicholls is no stranger to this situation, and so with his immediate Test spot on the line, he smashes his highest Test score &mdash; 174 in an innings in which no other Top 7 Kiwi batter manages to pass 50.&nbsp;Better yet, he backs it up with another 150+ score three innings later, against Pakistan.Nicholls was confronted by the god of death, but he coolly said:<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1679309438219-articleimg" style="width: 800px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"> ***In the aftermath of his 174 versus the Windies, Nicholls would probably have hoped to not find himself in a similar situation again in the near future.But a year later, he somehow managed to land in a precarious position again, albeit this time the lean patch being a relatively small one.A seven-Test period between June 2021 and January 2022 saw the southpaw average 21.90 and he entered the Tests against South Africa at home under a fair bit of pressure, especially having registered back-to-back ducks against Bangladesh; the first of those two ducks came in the fateful second innings of the Mount Maunganui Test in which Ebadot Hossain ran through the Kiwi batting line-up on a placid wicket.&nbsp;The absence of skipper Williamson meant that Nicholls played the South Africa series in February &mdash; not that his spot was under real jeopardy in the lead-up to it &mdash; but there was a good chance of him getting axed for the England series had he failed.&nbsp;For Williamson was guaranteed to take one middle-order spot once he regained fitness, and the shoot-out was hence between Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell.No prizes for guessing what happened next.With the bowlers bundling out South Africa for 95 on the morning of Day 1, Nicholls smashed his 8th Test ton on Day 2 to set-up victory for his side.&nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1679297825553-articleimg" style="width: 800px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">More importantly, though, he once again smashed his way to starting XI security with the grim reaper staring right at his face.***At this point, you can&rsquo;t help but think that it&rsquo;s just destiny working its magic.That he&rsquo;s managed to play four career-saving knocks is ridiculous enough.But the absurdity does not end there.In three of these knocks, Nicholls has been put down behind the wicket.En route to the 174 against the Windies, Nicholls was dropped not once, not twice, but thrice in his first 87 deliveries.&nbsp;Then against the Proteas in Christchurch, he was put down on his 11th ball by Zubayr Hamza, when he was batting on five.On Friday, meanwhile, he was handed two reprieves, the first on his 20th ball thanks to debutant wicket-keeper Nishan Madushka misjudging a sitter.<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1679297971508-articleimg" style="width: 800px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">Frankly, what are the odds?Henry Nicholls has played 54 Test matches for New Zealand. But by the looks of things, he seems fated to play hundred.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

The left-hander has pulled off perfectly-timed Houdini acts so many times that you can’t help but think that it’s just destiny working its magic

Henry Nicholls

Henry Nicholls has mastered the art of playing career-saving knocks

New Zealand claimed victory against Sri Lanka by an innings and 58 runs on Monday, securing a 2-0 Test series whitewash despite a late fightback from the visitors.Sri Lanka notched just 164 in their first innings and were asked to follow on after the Black Caps declared at 580 in Wellington. They were then bowled out for 358.Dhananjaya de Silva had launched a fightback on Monday, passing 3,000 Test runs before being caught on 98, missing a 10th Test century.New Zealand&#39;s seamers had already sniffed victory when they broke his 76-run partnership with debutant wicketkeeper Nishan Madushka, who was caught just before the tea break.The loss of De Silva signalled the end of the resistance -- Sri Lanka lost their last three wickets for 40 runs as the tailenders were picked off. New Zealand skipper Tim Southee and seamer Blair Tickner did most of the damage with three wickets apiece.After Sri Lanka resumed the day on 113-2, New Zealand&#39;s pace attack offered no respite in the first over of Monday as Matt Henry&#39;s delivery saw Kane Williamson catch Kusal Mendis on 50.The visitors were in danger of folding at 116-4 soon after when Angelo Mathews also walked having added just two runs from 44 balls.De Silva slowed New Zealand&#39;s momentum in a partnership of 126 alongside Dinesh Chandimal in the first session, which ended when Tickner had Chandimal caught on 62 just before lunch.De Silva maintained the resistance after the break by pairing up with Madushka, but their dismissals for no runs either side of tea left Sri Lanka still 98 runs short. New Zealand slowly turned the screw as Prabath Jayasuriya managed just two runs off 44 balls when he top-edged his shot to Tickner.Kasun Rajitha took Sri Lanka past 350 runs with a four which he was lucky to edge his shot past Michael Bracewell in the slips. Bracewell made no mistake the second time with a diving catch to claim Lahiru Kumara&#39;s wicket off Southee.Asitha Fernando survived a review after the ball clipped his trousers rather his leg pad, but New Zealand sealed victory when Rajitha was caught by Williamson, the hosts&#39; top-scorer with a double century in the first innings.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Dimuth Karunaratne and Co. did put up a fight in the second innings but still ended up losing by an innings and 58 runs

Dhananjaya de Silva

Dinesh Chandimal

Blair Tickner

Tim Southee

New Zealand demolish Sri Lanka to sweep Test series

Wait, we are already on the 22nd edition of the Cricket.com weekly?&nbsp;That&rsquo;s awesome.&nbsp;Just as awesome as the cricketing action from last week. Seven days that saw Mumbai Indians&rsquo; dominate the Women&rsquo;s Premier League (ya, sure, boring) to India crushing Australia&rsquo;s hopes with a pitch that is as dead as someone&#39;s will to work on a rainy day.What&rsquo;s or who is making the headlines?Kane Mama to New Zealand&rsquo;s rescue<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4330/kane-williamson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kane Williamson</a> is back.&nbsp;New Zealand are back.&nbsp;All the tweets about &lsquo;Test cricket, you beauty&rsquo; too are back. But only barely. The BlackCaps won the first Test by the barest of margins, off the last ball of a five-day event. Who could have written such a solid script?I&rsquo;m sure even the IPL and the BCCI couldn&rsquo;t have been so immaculate with their writing. To think that the right-hander only scored one run in the first innings is really A JOKE! Come the second innings, he turned into a monster. He even batted with a monster, in the form of<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57444/daryl-mitchell/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Daryl Mitchell</a>, who scored an 86-ball 81, with three fours and four sixes.8 runs were required from the last six balls. Six off four balls. Five off three balls. That&rsquo;s when Williamson&rsquo;s bat wielded like a sword, and under pressure, slapped Asita Fernando through point for a massive boundary. But then came the dot ball. 1 off 1, and Williamson misses but then runs through for a tight single, NEW ZEALAND HAVE WON!!!BANGLADESH CREATE HISTORYOh, while you were busy with New Zealand-Sri Lanka or India-Australia, Bangladesh were busy creating history. The Tigers have now defeated all three giants &ndash; Australia, New Zealand and England &ndash; at home in the shortest format. That&rsquo;s quite an achievement, to be honest. But this perhaps was the most impressive of the three wins, because England are the defending champions, they know how to win (well, not in Bangladesh but surely at other places).If there&rsquo;s one thing England realised over the course of that one week, it is that &lsquo;batters are of utmost importance&rsquo; and that&rsquo;s something that cost them dearly in the Asian conditions. For Bangladesh, it was the resurgence of <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/76294/mehidy-hasan-miraj/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mehidy Hasan Miraz</a>, who picked up five wickets, including four in the second T20I, which gave them a series win.Delhi Capitals, welcome your new Oz skipper?<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/65756/rishabh-pant/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rishabh Pant</a> is out of the IPL, at least that&rsquo;s what this news from the Delhi Capitals camp has confirmed. But the leadership has moved from one southpaw to another, well two southpaws to be honest. On March 16 (Thursday), DC confirmed that the 2016-IPL winning skipper, <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/5380/david-warner/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David Warner&nbsp;</a>will be at the helm of things for Delhi on the field.Davey&#39;s at the wheel, Tell me how does it feel, We&rsquo;ve got Shaw, Marsh and Ahmed, Yash Dhull, a Delhi born and bred,If that&rsquo;s not the chant at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, consider me disappointed.Kohli, Kohli, KohliWho doesn&rsquo;t love breaking a drought? Well, <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/3993/virat-kohli/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Virat Kohli</a> for the longest time was one, he hated breaking the drought. Jokes aside, the former Indian skipper finally got the monkey (Test century) off his back, against a dominant Australian bowling unit. Sure, the pitch was placid and runs were easy to come by but considering his form, there was a strong chance he could have missed out.But nope, Kohli stood tall, literally and figuratively to punch a heavyweight, with a 186, which showed he was BACK. BACK WITH A 186-BANG. Might be because of the placid wicket but you could sense that the confidence is back. At least, it should after the knock.What&rsquo;s happening in international cricket (on the field)?- &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;No shockers, India and Australia finally play out a dull draw. If after the toss, you expected a result, I&rsquo;m not sure how much cricket you&rsquo;d have watched. Can&rsquo;t even call it a road in Bangalore, at least it has bumps. 480 &amp; 175/2d vs 571, that&rsquo;s how the entire Test could be summed up, and India wrap the series 2-1.- &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;If you think India-Australia was done, then the ODI series began, with a humdinger that was won by India in Mumbai, all thanks to KL Rahul&rsquo;s sublime 75, and of course, a valuable 45 and 2/46 from Ravindra Jadeja.- &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Bangladesh registered a thumping three-nil series win over the current champions, England in the three-match T20I series. Their three wins &ndash; six wickets win, four wickets win and finally, a 16-run win.- &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;South Africa completed a stunning 2-0 whitewash over the West Indies, and the visitors stood no chance against such a strong bowling unit. They were blown away to smithereens in the second Test.- &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;After taking a 1-0 series lead, New Zealand started strong in the second Test, with twin centurions, in the form of Henry Nicholls (200) and Kane Williamson (215), to take them to 580/4 before Sri Lanka crashed to 26/2, leaving a lot for them to do on the remaining three days.&nbsp;Dominant Mumbai make WPL extremely lop-sidedThe first season of the competition, you expect some fun and close contests between teams, right? That&rsquo;s where Mumbai Indians made it a dull sport. Winning five out of five is okay but then trashing four teams en-route, is simply not ACCEPTABLE. Which demonic team has a net-run rate of +3.325 after five games. Either way, WPL has become just too lop-sided.Read: <a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/wpl-mid-season-what-works-and-what-doesnt-1678715003589" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WPL Mid Season - What worked and what hasn&#39;t?</a>Who else have competed? Delhi Capitals, they have done quite well. Four wins out of six, two losses, one against MI, so Delhi are up there, thanks to some good calls from their skipper, Meg Lanning. And, of course, the team. But the others &ndash; UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants and RCB &ndash; are struggling and will need more than a dominant display to catch up at third place. Anyone&rsquo;s race to be honest, for the third.PSL is buzzinggggggggggggggggYou thought WPL was bizarre, then PSL was like on &lsquo;high-performance&rsquo; drugs. Not the cough syrup one. We have gone past the crazy run-scoring fests, some mind-boggling individual displays from people you least expect, and some pitches that were literally the graveyard for the bowlers.Read: <a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/mammoth-scores-and-hundreds-galore-in-psl-2023-1678865343227" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mammoth scores and hundreds galore in PSL 2023</a>The play-off clash between Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars was anything but high-scoring. 160/5 vs 76 is extremely one-sided, and that really showed Multan&rsquo;s bowling unit. Then Lahore Qalandars went on to beat Peshawar Zalmi to set up a re-match but this time in the final.Will it be the dominant Multan or the Qalandars who will lift the PSL trophy? Set your alarms for 7.30 PM tonight to find out. ICYMI, this is really how the PSL has behaved this far!!!Come on, give me those articlesWell bowled, Gazza. I&rsquo;m sure you would have heard that over and again in the last four-five weeks of riveting action between India and Australia. Is Gazza the GOAT? Well, at least he is definitely the visiting GOAT to India. Read <a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/greyer-sharper-and-quick-witted-how-lyon-sparked-a-fire-in-india-1678866358754" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">what makes Lyon so special</a>, in this piece from Aakash.<a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/the-different-moods-of-bgt-2023-3152023-1678891738692" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This year&rsquo;s BGT was a definite mood board</a>, sorry Jarrod Kimber. But this mood board had everything, including a snooze-fest in Ahmedabad, two Prime Ministers with a lit chariot, and all those crazy turning action, like it was a bendy-curve race track. In case you need any help remembering it all, Gaurav&rsquo;s got you covered.<a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/how-can-india-fill-the-void-left-by-shreyas-iyers-absence-3152023-1678885293508" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">India are going to be without Shreyas Iyer</a>. How long? Not sure but long enough for his presence to be missed. So, what can they do? Anirudh Suresh has answered that question.Let me throw another piece from Anirudh here, on a certain Travis Head. <a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/travis-head-defies-odds-in-a-way-no-one-expected-him-to-1678770710783" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How did he defy the odds</a>, and make the Australian selectors look like fools for dropping him from the first Test in Nagpur!What can 18 seconds do to life? A lot. For a certain Proteas skipper, Dane van Niekerk, it was enough to call it time from the game. Her last words as a Proteas player, &lsquo;it was unfortunately, not enough&rsquo;. Read how <a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/an-18-second-delay-that-rattled-south-african-cricket-1678774548663" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">an 18-second delay rattled South African cricket</a>, all thanks to Shweta Haranhalli&rsquo;s writing.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

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Kane Williamson

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Women's Premier League, 2023

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The Cricket.com Weekly - Edition 22

Aggressive double centuries for <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4330/kane-williamson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kane Williamson</a> and<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57594/henry-nicholls/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;Henry Nicholls&nbsp;</a>powered New Zealand&#39;s dominance in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Wellington on Saturday.The Black Caps declared their first innings at an <a href="https://www.cricket.com/live-score/213915/commentary/nz-vs-sl-2nd-test-sri-lanka-tour-of-new-zealand-2023" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">imposing 580-4</a> before reducing Sri Lanka to 26-2 at stumps on day two, leaving the tourists with a very slim prospect of squaring the two-match series.The in-form Williamson scored 215 and Nicholls posted a career-best 200 not out, with the pair&#39;s third-wicket stand of 363 virtually batting Sri Lanka out of the contest.Their partnership was the fifth-highest by any New Zealand combination, and they became the country&#39;s first batters to reach 200 in the same innings.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Make it a double! <a href="https://twitter.com/HenryNicholls27?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HenryNicholls27</a> moves to 200 for the first time in Test cricket. Follow play LIVE in NZ with <a href="https://twitter.com/sparknzsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sparknzsport</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvSL</a> <a href="https://t.co/5PxT8DsX9M">pic.twitter.com/5PxT8DsX9M</a>&mdash; BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BLACKCAPS/status/1636944423010578433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2023</a></blockquote>Sri Lankan captain <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/11258/dimuth-karunaratne/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dimuth Karunaratne&nbsp;</a>will resume on 16 on Sunday, and nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya remains on four, with the deficit a daunting 554 runs.Sri Lanka&#39;s bowlers struggled to generate life on a flat Basin Reserve pitch, forcing Karunaratne to set defensive fields during much of the mammoth partnership.Williamson and Nicholls batted at a lively clip from the outset, advancing quickly from a 155-2 overnight score and barely looking troubled as they unleashed an array of attacking strokes through the first two sessions.Williamson was impenetrable as he reached three figures for the third time in successive Tests, becoming the first New Zealander to pass 8,000 runs in the process.It was a sixth double-century for the 32-year-old -- whose unbeaten 121 was pivotal in a final-ball first Test in Christchurch earlier this week.Having resumed on 26, Williamson struck 23 fours and two sixes before holing out in the deep off spinner Jayasuriya as he tried to escalate the scoring rate. Nicholls marched on from his overnight 18 to reach three figures before pushing past his previous-best score of 174.His aggressive 240-ball knock, which featured four sixes, represented a remarkable return to form for the left-hander, whose place in the team was under pressure after failing to reach 40 in his 15 previous innings.Nicholls said he was aware of criticism of his ongoing selection but said he was made to feel comfortable by support from his teammates and coach Gary Stead.&quot;Everyone in the group&#39;s been great and you really feel that support,&quot; he said. &quot;For me, it was just about trusting that I had done it before. It hasn&#39;t happened as much as I&#39;d like in the last period. Now the challenge is doing it again knowing that the blueprint is there.&quot;Missed our lengths: &nbsp;Dhananjaya de SilvaNicholls compared the partnership with a 369-run stand with Williamson against Pakistan in Christchurch two years ago. &quot;The way Kane&#39;s playing, he&#39;s in a real zone out there. It was nice to make that partnership into another really big one.&quot;<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57759/kasun-rajitha/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kasun Rajitha</a>, who was off the field for a period nursing a shoulder injury, lodged the best bowling figures of 2-126. Sri Lanka spinner<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57440/dhananjaya-de-silva/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;Dhananjaya de Silva</a> said the tourists were guilty of allowing the double centurions too much leeway.&quot;Obviously Kane and Henry batted very well. We have to be at our best when we&#39;re facing these players but we missed our lengths,&quot; he said. De Silva said Sri Lanka hadn&#39;t given up on squaring the series although he conceded it will be very difficult to force a victory.&quot;We&#39;re not playing for a draw, we&#39;re playing for a win. So we have to bat for at least one and a half days. We&#39;ll see what will happen,&quot; he said.Matt Henry removed opener Oshada Fernando for six before fellow-seamer Doug Bracewell dismissed Kusal Mendis without scoring via a spectacular catch at point from Devon Conway.It came from Bracewell&#39;s third ball of the match in what is his first Test appearance in more than six years.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

The duo slammed double tons and forged a 363-run stand for the third wicket to power New Zealand in a commanding position against Sri Lanka

Kasun Rajitha

Dimuth Karunaratne

Williamson, Nicholls double tons put New Zealand on top

Watching a Test match in New Zealand is a bliss. The stadiums in this country are just picturesque. None of the stadiums across the globe beats them in a competition of attraction. To go along with that, watching a nail-biting finish, is just a fantasy for any cricket fan.With the amount of T20 cricket happening across the globe, who watches Test cricket? Especially when two out of the ongoing three-Test series, have seen matches fold in just three days. Though the last Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy lasted five days, the pitch or the match had nothing in it.In any case, if one wants to see what real Test cricket is, then watch the matches that are happening in New Zealand. The last two matches are the perfect example of why Test cricket is at its pinnacle.A victory by just one run against England, after being forced to follow on, and the last ball win against Sri Lanka, on a rain-curtailed day, two breathtaking victories for New Zealand, and Test cricket.To be fair, Sri Lanka put on a great fight. It was just that, they failed to seize the opportunities. In the first innings, after posting a total of 355 in the first innings, they had the home team in a spot of bother. New Zealand had lost their top six wickets for 188, trailing by 167 runs. However, the lower order alongside <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57444/daryl-mitchell/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daryl Mitchell</a> handed New Zealand an 18-run lead.In the second innings, <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/5244/angelo-mathews/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Angelo Mathews</a> led the charge with a spectacular century. The game swung like a pendulum in the chase, but the ice-cool <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4330/kane-williamson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kane Williamson</a> stayed till the end to see New Zealand through. OH! With this loss, Sri Lanka is also out of the World Test Championship final.There is only one context to the second Test: for Sri Lanka, to draw the series.Things to watch out forAre the Kiwi bowlers struggling in the absence of Boult?With <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4338/trent-boult/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Trent Boult&nbsp;</a>exiting their central contract, and New Zealand&rsquo;s structure of playing only contracted players in Tests, his absence has affected their bowling. In both the series, against England and in the first Test against Sri Lanka, the Kiwi bowlers looked a bit pale. &nbsp;In home Tests since Boult&rsquo;s debut, Kiwi bowlers picked up a wicket every 27.4 runs and 56.3 balls, when Boult was in the playing XI. However, without him, their average raises to 33.1 in 11 matches. Let alone the history, in recent times as well, there is a stark difference.In home Tests since 2020, with Boult in the XI, they bagged a wicket every 22.6 runs and 49.8 balls as compared to 30.95 average and 52.0 strike rate, without him.<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4235/tim-southee/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tim Southee</a> alongside Boult, were hunting in pairs. But, in the aforementioned time, he has missed his partner. In home Tests since 2020, Southee averaged 21.4 and had a wicket every 46.5 balls. In any case, without him, he has a wicket every 27.8 runs at a balls/wicket ratio of 58.The downward curve of Nicholls&#39; Test careerMaking his debut as an ODI player, <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57594/henry-nicholls/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Henry Nicholls</a> showed his impressive skills as a better Test batter in his early stages. In any case, since 2021, his career has seen a constant downfall.In his first five years, Nicholls scored close to 2000+ runs at an average of 41.6. Apart from his debut year (24.2), in none of the remaining four years, his average dropped below 30. His peak came in 2018, when he scored 658 runs in 12 innings at an average of 73.1.<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1678895172881-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">But, after averaging 47.9 in 2020, his average dipped to 35.9 in 2021. Then it declined further to 27.9 in 2022, and now, he is at the lowest point of his career. In four matches in 2023, he averages 15.4.Mendis and Mathews pair doing wonders in New ZealandSri Lanka were at an advantage at the end of Day 1, and Day 4, and that was mainly because of two batters. <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63882/kusal-mendis/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kusal Mendis</a> on Day 1, smashed an 83-ball 87, helping Sri Lanka post 355. On Day 4, Mathews put Sri Lanka in the driver&rsquo;s seat with a scintillating century.In the second Test as well, the batting will be dependent on these two. It is just not in the first Test, in their career, both these batters have an exceptional record in New Zealand. In case you didn&rsquo;t know. In Sri Lanka&rsquo;s tour in 2018, the pair came together at 13/3, and 283 runs behind. They batted out the whole day (Day 4), and both registered centuries to deny a win for New Zealand.Both these batters average over 50 after batting 10+ innings in New Zealand. Among Sri Lankan batters who have played five-plus innings in New Zealand, only four batters average 50+. Only Kumar Sangakkara (61) averages better than Mathews (60.45) and Mendis&rsquo; average of 50.8 is the fourth best.Pitch and ConditionsIn the last five Tests at Basin Reserve, Wellington, batting has been fairly easy. In Tests since 2018, teams have scored runs at an average of 34.03, the second best after Seddon Park, Hamilton (46.2).More than that, Toss has played a crucial role at this venue. Teams winning the toss have 80 percent of the matches (3 out of five), the highest among all New Zealand venues that have witnessed two or more matches. In all the matches in Wellington, teams have chosen to bowl first. In fact, in the aforementioned time, only twice have a team opted to bat first in this country.As is the case in most of the venues in SENA countries, pacers have dominated the wickets column. 89.7 percent of the wickets have belonged to the pacers. They have bowled 84.3 percent of the overs as well. The pacers have scalped a wicket every 56.1 balls. Across the venues of New Zealand, only in Christchurch, the pacers (55.8) have a better strike rate, since 2018.Tactical Nous-In overseas Tests since 2020, <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/11258/dimuth-karunaratne/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dimuth Karunaratne</a> has had troubles against pacers when they have pitched it full. However, his record against length deliveries has been exceptional. In the first innings of the first Test as well, he fell driving to a full ball. In this period, he has averaged 18 against pacers when they have bowled this length (7 dismissals out of 11).<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1678895214633-articleimg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">-Nicholls&rsquo; one biggest problem in Tests since 2020, has been back of the length or short deliveries against pacers. In this time, nine out of his 19 dismissals against pace, has come from this length. He averages 29 when bowled on these lengths.Team combination<a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/multiple-injuries-forces-neil-wagner-out-of-2nd-test-against-sri-lanka-1678601435700" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Neil Wagner was ruled out of the second Test</a> with a bulging disc in his back and a torn right hamstring. Doug Bracewell has been called as his replacement. They have released Will Young ahead of the second Test, which could imply that they are not going to change the batting order. Either Bracewell or Scott Kuggeleijn might come in.Probable XI: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee (c), Matt Henry, Scott Kuggeleijn/Doug Bracewell, Blair TicknerDespite the loss, Sri Lanka are expected to go in with the same XI.Probable XI: Oshada Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kasun Rajitha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha FernandoPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Oh Lord! Let there be hat-trick of thrillers please

Angelo Mathews

Kusal Mendis

Trent Boult

With WTC final dream shattered, SL's focus shits to levelling series

New Zealand have announced their squad for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka starting on March 25 at Eden Park in Auckland with <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/10167/tom-latham/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tom Latham</a> at the helm.&nbsp;It is a reasonably new-look New Zealand side, with the majority of the players opting for rest or travelling to India early for their commitments with respective franchises in the Indian Premier League, including regular skipper <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4330/kane-williamson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kane Williamson</a>.&nbsp;The home team will have a depleted look in the final two outings, with <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/66046/finn-allen/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Finn Allen</a>, Glenn Phillips and <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63719/lockie-ferguson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lockie Ferguson</a> scheduled to leave the team after the completion of the first ODI.&nbsp;The squad also includes<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57392/chad-bowes/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;Chad Bowes&nbsp;</a>and <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/67886/benjamin-lister/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ben Lister</a> as the two uncapped players in the ODI squad to face the Lankans. While the left-arm pacer made his T20Is debut for the national side against India last month, Bowes is the leading run-scorer for Canterbury in white-ball cricket with 359 T20 runs at an average of 39.89.&nbsp;<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ICYMI | The squad for the ANZ ODI Series against Sri Lanka 🏏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvSL</a> Story | <a href="https://t.co/jG8ZzXlopY">https://t.co/jG8ZzXlopY</a> <a href="https://t.co/WXFoMCvnSA">pic.twitter.com/WXFoMCvnSA</a>&mdash; BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BLACKCAPS/status/1635388477251411968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s always exciting as a coach to have new players in the environment and to have players putting their hands up to be selected again in a particular format,&quot; head coach Gary Stead stated in the press release.&nbsp;&ldquo;Chad has been impressive for a number of seasons at the top of the order for Canterbury as well as being an excellent fielder.&rdquo; &nbsp;&ldquo;We are set to play 16 white ball matches between now and the start of May, so there will be a number of chances for players to test themselves in familiar and unfamiliar conditions,&quot; he further added.&nbsp;New Zealand have also recalled Tom Blundell and Will Young to the fifty-over format, and Stead feels that the wicket-keeper batter&#39;s inclusion in the squad is based on his performances in the last 12 to 18 months.&nbsp;&ldquo;Tom Blundell, in particular, is someone who we&rsquo;ve been hugely impressed by in international cricket over the past 18 months as a leader in the Test team and then domestically with the Wellington Firebirds.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an exciting opportunity for Tom ahead of a big year of white ball cricket. Ben&rsquo;s had a challenging time in the past six to seven months, but he&rsquo;s back fit again, and we are really excited by the point of difference he brings to the bowling group,&quot; he concluded.&nbsp;After the first ODI on March 25, the two sides will lock horns in Christchurch on March 28 and Hamilton on March 31.&nbsp;New Zealand ODI squad:Tom Latham (Captain), Finn Allen (1st ODI only), Tom Blundell, Chad Bowes, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman (2nd &amp; 3rd ODIs only), Lockie Ferguson (1st ODI only), Matt Henry, Ben Lister (2nd &amp; 3rd ODIs only), Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls (2nd &amp; 3rd ODIs only), Glenn Phillips (1st ODI only), Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will YoungPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

New Zealand have also included Chad Bowes and Ben Lister in the squad in the absence of senior players

Benjamin Lister

Finn Allen

Tom Latham to lead ODI squad against Sri Lanka

A <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4330/kane-williamson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kane Williamson</a> century led New Zealand to a dramatic last-ball, two-wicket victory against Sri Lanka on a rain-disrupted final day in Christchurch on Monday.In a helter-skelter finish, the only Sri Lankans not guarding the boundary for most of the closing 10 overs were the bowler and wicketkeeper as New Zealand chased down their target of 285.The winning run came from a bye after Williamson missed with his swipe at the ball. He finished 121 not out with New Zealand 285-8 and Sri Lanka two wickets shy of their target.The thrilling New Zealand win scuppered Sri Lanka&#39;s chances of making the World Test Championship final, handing the spot to India instead.When rain wiped out the first two sessions on the fifth day, the umpires ruled there would be a minimum of 53 overs played in the evening, which meant New Zealand would have to average 4.85 an over.After a steady but slow start which saw the hosts at 90-3, Williamson and <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57444/daryl-mitchell/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daryl Mitchell </a>picked up the pace. They put on 142 in 26 overs for the fourth wicket with the precision of a one-day partnership.Sri Lanka paid a heavy price for Williamson being dropped by <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57454/niroshan-dickwella/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Niroshan Dickwella</a> on 33 as he went on to produce his 27th century.The 31-year-old Mitchell, a late arrival on the international stage, contributed 81 to lift his average to a phenomenal 59.04 from 26 innings.In a match of see-sawing fortunes, Sri Lanka had the upper hand on the opening two days before a first-innings century from Mitchell, and a swashbuckling 72 from <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/60544/matt-henry/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt Henry</a> -- the last 60 from only 35 deliveries -- swung the game in New Zealand&#39;s favour.Sri Lanka fought their way back into contention on the fourth day with a defiant 115 from <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/5244/angelo-mathews/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Angelo Mathews</a>, who built partnerships of 105 for the fifth wicket with Dinesh Chandimal and then 60 with Dhananjaya de Silva.When the Sri Lanka second innings folded at 302 it left New Zealand needing 285 to win on a ground where the highest fourth-innings score was 256-8 by New Zealand in a 2018 draw against England.Devon Conway was removed for five, leaving the outcome on a knife edge going into the final day. When play resumed on Monday, Prabath Jayasuriya made early in-roads with the wickets of Tom Latham for 25 and Henry Nicholls for 20.<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/65029/asitha-fernando/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Asitha Fernando</a> bowled Mitchell and Tom Blundell (three) and had Michael Bracewell caught for 10 to leave New Zealand 266-6 and needing a further 19 runs with 16 balls left.Williamson kept going to take the game to the final ball as Tim Southee (one), and Matt Henry (four) came and went, with Neil Wagner not out on zero.The second Test starts at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday, March 17.&nbsp;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Kane Williamson's gritty 121* powers New Zealand to a two-wicket win and helps India qualify for World Test Championship final

SRI LANKA TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND 2023

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