Twitter Reactions: Rachin Ravindra stands between Sri Lanka and victory after hard-fought fourth day

Day 4 of the first Test between hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Galle began with the hosts continuing their second innings at the overnight score of 237/4, with Angelo Mathews and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva at the crease.

The tourists asked for a new ball early in the day, which gave them dividends as they got rid of the Sri Lankan skipper who could add just six more runs to his overnight score of 34. Kusal Mendis walked in next and scored a quickfire 30-ball 23 before Ajaz Patel rattled his stumps. Meanwhile, Mathews continued his score of 34 and went on to bring up his 43rd Test half-century. But just as he reached his fifty, Patel got another breakthrough for his side. Kiwis took no time to bundle the Sri Lankan tail at the score of 309. For New Zealand, Patel was the pick of the bowlers, claiming a six-fer. William O’Rourke ended with three along with Mitchell Santner's one scalp.

Chasing a target of 275, the visitors had a horrid start, as the opener Devon Conway walked back in the second over of the innings, after adding just four runs to the tally. Veteran batter Kane Williamson walked in next and was confident to better his first-innings score of 55. Though Williamson and Tom Latham took the score over the 50-run mark, Jayasuriya got rid of the in-form right-hander at the score of 30. Opener Latham who was trying to build his innings found himself walking back to the pavilion at the score of 28. 

All-rounder Daryl Mitchell also was back in the change room in no time after adding just a mere eight runs to the scorecard, with New Zealand struggling at 96/4. From there Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell joined hands and went on to stitch a crucial 56-run stand. Blundell was dismissed for 30, lacing his innings with four boundaries. 

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Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, and skipper Tim Southee were no help to Ravindra who brought up yet another fifty. All three batters added just four, two, and two runs, respectively. Sri Lankan bowlers were trying their level best to seal the Test match but the umpires decided to call it a day, with the result awaited for the final day. 

The fifth day will be crucial for both sides, as New Zealand require 68 runs to win while Sri Lanka on the other hand need two wickets to win the opening Test. Ravindra remained unbeaten on 91 after the end of Day 4. For the hosts, Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya were the best performers with the ball, picking three wickets each. 

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