New Zealand strike late to seize advantage

The Kiwi played his 99th Test match against Sri Lanka. Stumps were called when rain became heavier after 66 overs.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat on a lush green pitch at Seddon Park, expecting his bowlers to dominate in conditions which supported both seam and swing.

The arrival of Matthews beckoned in a crucial 138-run partnership with Milinda Siriwardana that should have put Sri Lanka in a commanding position heading into day two.

Boult repaired his figures with a double-strike in an over, his movement away from Siriwardene resulting in an edge to slip, where Taylor juggled but caught it. Three balls later, Kithuruwan Vithanage closed the face too early and the leading edge was taken low by McCullum diving forward at mid-off.

But the Black Caps weren’t able to create consistent pressure, especially early on.

“We did not maximize that first session in Dunedin”, he said.

“I think we were looking at probably a day that hadn’t gone according to plan and that last 20 minutes really dragged us back in”.

The highlight of the day was certainly the solid 136-run stand between Siriwardana and Mathews, as the duo shared six sixes between them notching up the runs above four per over.

“I’m sure they would have learned a lot (in Dunedin) and it should be a good game”, he said.

“We tried to bat through the innings”.

Trent Boult and Tim Southee claimed two wickets eachas the game was stopped at 4.30pm due to rain.

Apart from batting and bowling, some good pieces of fielding grabbed attention s the black caps skipper took a couple of brilliant catches. Wagner began his short-ball attack with a leg gully, backward short leg and a long leg. Mathews and Siriwardana pulled when they could, middling some balls, top-edging others over the keeper for six.

Udara Jayasundera was run out for 26 when he was sent back by Dinesh Chandimal but not quick enough to beat Santner’s throw to Watling, who whipped off the bails.

Santner prevented a Lakmal six with an outstanding dive to catch the ball and flip it again contained in the rope, and although the tail-ender hit Doug Bracewell for 4 to succeed in a Check-best 23 he popped up a return catch to the identical bowler subsequent ball.

Siriwardana reached his own half-century in style as well, driving a Bracewell delivery to the boundary.