New Zealand v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 1 Review: Honours even with Mathews unbeaten and late strikes from hosts

Pink Floyd’s popular number “High Hopes” was totally apt for the Hamilton pitch, as the strip had a tinge of brown to it. There was some impatient bowling, gritty batting and a spoonful of luck to go with it. New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum won the toss earlier in the day and sent the visitors to bat. Second over into the game and Ross Taylor dropped Kusal Mendis off Tim Southee. The openers batted for a good 13 overs before Dimuth Karunaratne inside edged one onto his stumps with the scoreboard reading 39/1.

Southee came back in the next over and bowled a peach of a delivery which saw the batsman edging it to Watling. Sri Lanka sensed a collapse, but Dinesh Chandimal continued from where he had left in the last game. He played a breathtaking straight drive off Doug Bracewell and speared the next one through the covers. He slashed another one to the fence, bringing up three boundaries off Bracewell in the 20th over. The pitch looked settling down as both Chandimal and Udara Jayasundera batted with ease.

A freakish run-out is what the doctor ordered for the Kiwis and it was Jayasundera who fell short of his crease going for an ambitious second. Chandimal was soon to follow and Sri Lanka were suddenly 4 wickets down for 121. There were few edges here and there, but both Angelo Mathews and Milinda Siriwardana took the game away from a sudden death to the driver seat. Both the batsmen dispatched loose ones and launched the turners to the cleaners. The green track suddenly felt like a highway with the willow dominating the cherry. McCullum shuffled the bowlers well and it was Boult who broke the 136-run partnership at over four an over.

The visitors lost the next two wickets in no time, as New Zealand were back in the game with dual blows. Boult tried to castle Dushmantha Chameera next up, but the batsman kept the ball out of danger with the skipper watching at the other end. Umpire Llong had a good look in as the rain got steady. Water poured in heavy as stumps were called.

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. Sri Lanka could have ended the day on a better note but the hosts struck back with 3 wickets in a span of 13 runs. Both Boult and Southee bowled with intent and they deserve all the rewards on a wicket that stayed true without much fuss.

Sri Lanka will look to pin their hopes on skipper Mathews, who stayed unbeaten on 63 while the Kiwis will look to wrap up the remaining three sticks.

Brief Score:

Sri Lanka – 264/7 in 67 overs (Mathews 63*, Siriwardana 62; Southee 2/51)