Sri Lanka continue to dictate terms by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Galle International Stadium, Galle
Scorecard:	Sri Lanka v New Zealand
Player:	TT Samaraweera, TG McIntosh, CS Martin, DL Vettori
Event:	New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2009

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DateLine: 19th August 2009

 

When the second day’s play ended the Sri Lankan bowlers ensured that the advantage gained by the Sri Lankan batsmen were not squandered as Thushara and Mendis picked up a wicket each to put New Zealand in some spot of bother. Reply to Sri Lanka’s 452 New Zealand ended the day at 87 for 2 when the umpires called it stumps.

 

Just 13 overs were bowled in the morning session after heavy rain delayed the start by two hours, and Sri Lanka moved from their overnight score of 293/3 to 328/4 by lunch. Ian O’ Brien who was quite expensive got the wicket of Jayawardene with the one that moved a touch away. Jayawardene edged it to Taylor at first slip as New Zealand struck early. Jayawardene added six runs to his overnight score of 108 before falling for 114.

 

Jayawardene and Samaraweera had added 166 in 52.5 overs as they had put Sri Lanka on the road to control. Samaraweera was undeterred as he moved serenely towards his 10th Test century post-lunch. He took 223 balls to reach the triple figures and after reaching the landmark he began to open up. Off-spinner Jeetan Patel bore the brunt off the attack as he was repeatedly driven through the covers and through midwicket with imperious ease. He was well supported by Angelo Mathews who initially looked uncomfortable.

 

The duo added 86 runs when a tireless Vettori finally produced a faint edge from the bat of Mathews. Wicket-keeper Jayawardene looked fairly uncomfortable with his stay in the middle and he gave Vettori his second wicket of the match. Kulasekara threw his bat around to entertain the crowd and also added 36 runs with Samaraweera before the latter in an attempt to quicken up the run-rate fell holed out in the deep.

 

Seamer Chris Martin removed Nuwan Kulasekara and Muttiah Muralitharan in one over to finish with 4-77, before Vettori ended the innings with the wicket of Thilan Thushara.

 

McIntosh and Guptill then began New Zealand’s reply in a steady manner. Guptill took the mantle off the aggressor while McIntosh took it upon himself anchor the innings. The opening pair added 45 runs in ten overs with Guptill playing some lovely shots through the covers and through the midwicket. But then he lost his concentration at the crucial moment to edge a wide ball from Thushara onto his stumps.

 

Flynn joined McIntosh and the pair defied the two spinners, Muralitharan and Mendis for sometime. The pair added 35 in 16.3 overs and just when it looked like the pair would take New Zealand to stumps Flynn inside edged Mendis onto his stumps to hand Sri Lanka the advantage.