Half-centuries from Kusal Mendis and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne helped Sri Lanka put up 305 for six earlier than dangerous mild interrupted the opening day of the primary Test towards New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday.
It was a optimistic day on the batting crease for the South Asians, who can attain the ultimate of the World Test Championship in the event that they beat the Black Caps within the two-Test sequence and Australia deny India victory within the fourth Test in Ahmedabad. does.
New Zealand captain Tim Southee gained the toss and put his bowlers to work on a inexperienced pitch on the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
But it backfired as Mendis and Karunaratne shared a 137-run partnership for the second wicket.
Pacer Southee broke the partnership by dismissing Mendis for 87 off 83 balls when the quantity three refused to ship the shot.
Southee had opener Oshada Fernando caught down the leg aspect for 13 and Dinesh Chandimal caught within the slips for 39, offering the decide of the bowlers on a disappointing day for the hosts.
Number six Dhananjay de Silva scored 39 not out and tail-ender Kasun Rajitha scored 16 not out earlier than leaving the sport late within the ultimate session.
Paceman Matt Henry took two wickets by getting Karunaratne (50) and all-rounder Angelo Mathews (47) caught within the slips.
He was unfortunate to not have extra, although, as he and Southee batted repeatedly within the morning.
Henry stated, “It’s always a frustrating day when you, I think, get hit with a bat like that.”
“We just have to be a bit better for more time because there was a period that hurt us a bit.”
It was a poor day for New Zealand’s different quick bowlers, with Neil Wagner conceding 68 runs in 10 wicketless overs, an enormous comeback after his final-day heroics within the current one-run win over England in Wellington.
Rookie pacer Blair Tickner was additionally ineffective, with quantity three Mendis blasting his short-pitched salvoes with T20-style batting.
Southee lit up all of New Zealand’s opinions throughout a day punctuated by brief interruptions from drizzle and disappointment.
Fortunately, New Zealand wanted none of it when spin-bowling all-rounder Michael Bracewell slammed wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella on the pads late on.
Dickwella was lbw for seven and blew one in all Sri Lanka’s opinions in an try and overturn the choice.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS