New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI at Mount Maunganui, SL in NZ, Jan 05 2019 - Match Result

10:05pm Whew. That is it from our live coverage. New Zealand have sealed the series with a game to go. Stick around for our post-match coverage. Andrew Fidel Fernando on match report and a piece on Thisara Perera, no doubt. That should be tasty. On behalf of Saurabh and Raghav, it's goodbye from here.

Kane Williamson: Probably 85% of that game, it was clinical from our guys. I thought 319 was a good score on a slightly worn wicket. Perera played absolutely out of his skin, reminded me of Stoinis. It was all sort of landing in one direction for a bit there. We all had a go [dropped catches]. It was frustrating. If we did hold our catches, we'd have reflectd on it differently. On top of that, Thisara kept putting us under pressure. We pride ourselves on our fielding and it's something we need to move on quickly from before Nelson. It's about guys going out and performing their roles. Needs to become that sort of a habit where we go out and keep the game moving forward as much as we can. We adjusted pretty well, where it was gripping and we realised it wasn't a 350 pitch. Jimmy's played outstandngly well. On these sorts of surfaces, those 300+ scores and 350+ scores are important, you need a guy like Jimmy or Thisara coming out. This is sort of the new age of one-day cricket.

Lasith Malinga: Thisara played an unbelievable innings. I always feel he is a match-wining player and he almost did it for Sri Lanka. We are really happy for him. We needed to get a good middle order partnership but we missed that and that is why we lost the match in this situation. In the first ODI we didn't use our variations much, but after that we realised we needed to do it. We have to prepare mentally for the situation and conditions.

Thisara Perera: Really proud of myself, because it's my first century. Last eight years I've been batting at No. 8. Thanks to the coaching staff for pushing me up to No. 7. I should give them a present. I was not thinking anything. I had to take the responsibilty throughout. I told the Nuwan and Sandakan to just play five or six balls. I should thank Chandika Hathurusingha and Thilan Samraweera - they were throwing throwing throwing to me. Credit goes to these two.

Thisara Perera is the Man of the Match.

ChrisNZ: "Stoked that we can break the 'rule' of only giving MoM to the winning team. Well deserved for a spectacular knock."

Jamie: "Whew! I thought I was going to be to blame for an NZ loss there - when Perera was in the 90s, I said to the TV "Don't get him out just yet boys, let him get to three figures first...""

Pathum: "We had hope for word cup.2019 well done boys"

UJack: "Great match! Would have been a cake walk ifNZ were tidy - 13 wides and 5 dropped catches. On the other hand, the lower order fightback of SL was inspiring - hoping the top order will fight just the same in the next game!"

Vikram Rathore: "That was one of the best ODI knocks we will ever see. Shame it ended in a losing cause, but my god, can this bloke bat!"

Hashim: "What a fight back from Srilanka. Who would have thought they will reach 298. Once they were 128/7."

Aashu: "Just like last January (Marcus Stoinis' 146 against NZ), this January also produces a magnificent inning by an all rounder in a losing cause. "

Braden : "Apparently there have been reports of a meteor shower across the Bay of Plenty. Surely just some of Thisara Perera's sixes. "

Saurav: "NOOOOOOOOOOOO"

9:47pm Thisara smiles after the dismissal. Hasn't had much reason to smile lately. Everyone congratulating him on a fine, fine knock. He leads both teams off the field. "Just let me do my work peacefully" he had tweeted following the backlash after the first ODI. Among many others, New Zealand have allowed him to do that today. But make no mistake - the last 18 months have been Thisara's best in international cricket. This is the peaking of a very talented man. Eight fours, 13 sixes, and a total of 169 added with the last three wickets. For context, those three batsmen made a combined 26 runs. Sri Lanka's top order will be kicking themselves. New Zealand will possibly have some hairdryer treatment of their own. Some average cricket from both teams around this colossal innings. What a way to start the year.

It's the 47th over and NZ are onto something - he isn't going to hit the bouncers for six

Right, the physio is out massaging Thisara's lower back on the left side.

Samuel Hill: "This is very poor bowling from New Zealand. So often we don't finish teams off when they're on the ropes. Southee can't play the next game. His time in the limited overs teams has to be over."

Matt Henry, best fast bowler on the day for NZ. He'll bowl his last over. Can Pradeep survive? Thisara flexing his spine a little. Looks like he has a slight niggle.

Neil: "Book cricket, anyone?"

Stewart: "Regardless of outcome, Perera for Man of the Match, as he actually has made it a match"

Samuel Hill: "This is very poor bowling from New Zealand. So often we don't finish teams off when they're on the ropes. Southee can't play the next game. His time in the limited overs teams has to be over."

Big conference now. They need to stop that single.

It's been 160 runs since Sri Lanka lost their seventh wicket!

Alan Richardson: "Is this a bit of "All rounders" union in play with Neesham & Perera - You bowl me a few pies to put over the boundary and I will bowl you a few when it is your turn to bat?"

Looks like mid-off is in. Cover, point and midwicket are in. Slower short ball?

ChrisNZ: "If all catches had been taken, Sri Lanka would be 257/14, or even 15 if you count Taylor's fingertip effort at third slip... "

Sandaru Herath: "Edges! Edges! Thats what we need from you Pradeep"

They've crossed over though

Alan Deacon: "Take off Neesham, take off Neesham, take of Neesham"