SL beat NZ by 6 wickets | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st Test Match

That's all we have from this Test match. The second one starts on 22nd August at the P Sara Oval in Colombo at 1000 local (0430 GMT). Do join us then. Cheers!

Sri Lankan skipper and the MAN OF THE MATCH, Dimuth Karunaratne states that it's not easy chasing in the fourth innings. Emphasizes on forming a good partnership and this is something he discussed with Lahiru Thirimanne. Tells that once you are set in these conditions you have to make the most of it. Adds that they want to stick to the basics in the next Test match as well. Praises his bowlers for their performance in the first innings. Mentions that once the ball gets softer, it's easier to bat in Galle. Further says that they saw how Taylor and Watling batted on this pitch and their knocks made them believe that it's not too dangerous to bat on.

New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson starts by saying that at the toss, he would have taken a target of 268 in the fourth innings. Adds that they thought the surface will deteriorate from their past experience but it didn't much. Feels the surface slowed down and it was a good one for batting. Mentions that they have learnt a lot from this game. States that they weren't too far behind Sri Lanka but the hosts had the experience of playing in their backyard which came in handy. Admits that they need to bat and bowl better and concentrate on getting partnerships. On the Test ranking, Kane replies that it's secondary and the quality of cricket is what they focus on. Signs off by saying that this wasn't their best performance and congratulates Sri Lanka for playing really well.

With this defeat, New Zealand's chance of winning the series 2-0 and toppling India from the number one Test position has also vanished. For Sri Lanka, they get 60 points for winning this match and have opened their account in the ICC World Test Championship. Stay with us for the presentation...

This Test match could have been over in a flash had BJ Watling not stepped up for the Black Caps in the second innings. He revived things for the visitors with his brave knock and handy partnerships with the lower order batsmen. With the pitch showing signs of deterioration, a target of 268 was considered to be a tricky one but when your openers raise a 161-run partnership, things become smooth more often than not. Kudos to Karunaratne for his stupendous innings and Sri Lanka were also helped by some ordinary performance by New Zealand in the field.

The result doesn't really show how closely this Test match was fought. The momentum kept swinging like a pendulum and it was Sri Lanka who got the early advantage after Akila Dananjaya's fifer. But Ross Taylor's knock made sure that the Kiwis somehow limped to a respectful first innings total. Then it was the turn of the Lankan batsmen to dominate proceedings although it didn't last for long as courtesy of Ajaz Patel's 5-wicket haul, the visitors only conceded a slender 18-run lead.

A convincing victory for Sri Lanka to go 1-0 up in the series! Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne was the chief architect of this win. His individual century coupled with the 161-run stand with Lahiru Thirimanne has powered the Islanders home. New Zealand were decent with their bowling efforts but were let down by some sloppy fielding. Karunaratne will be a delighted man after winning his first home Test as a captain and also he keeps his 100 percent win record intact.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. That is it! Mathews takes Sri Lanka home. Good length ball on middle and off, Angelo shuffles and turns it behind square on the leg side to seal the game. SRI LANKA WIN BY 6 WICKETS!

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length ball outside off, Dhananjaya calmly leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. No hurry as de Silva is not interested in playing this length ball outside off.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Just a run away from a historic chase here in Galle. Short ball on off, de Silva gets on his back foot and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Tim Southee to Angelo Mathews. Straight as an arrow. Full ball on middle, Mathews plays a good looking straight drive but it is too straight as the ball ricochets off the stumps and goes wide of mid on. Single taken.

Tim Southee to Angelo Mathews. On off, Mathews defends it off the front foot.

Tim Southee to Angelo Mathews. Good length ball around off, Mathews stands tall and punches it to cover.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Full on off, Dhananjaya drives it straight but the bat turns in his hands and he ends up mistiming it past the stumps at the non-striker's end. The batsmen come back for the second as the fielder from mid off cleans it up. Just 6 needed now.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On top of middle, Dhananjaya defends it with a straight bat.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Short from Southee, Mathews eases his pull towards fine leg for one.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Fuller on off, Angelo pushes it to mid off.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Back of a length ball on off, Mathews is in no hurry and calmly defends it off his back foot.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Bouncer! Mathews sees it and ducks under it.