Stoic Sri Lanka frustrate Caps
An early triplewicket blast from strike-man Southee comes to nought as tourists dig in at the Basin. Mark Geenty reports.
Home, sweet home.
Just when it seemed the Black Caps, still a touch weary and jetlagged six days after returning home, were flagging against Sri Lanka, normal transmission resumed in Wellington.
Sparked by a Tim Southee triple strike, and iced by the senior swing bowler’s first fivewicket haul in his 11th test at the Basin Reserve, New Zealand marginally took day one honours in the first cricket test. It was a close run thing, though, as Sri Lanka ended a creditable 275-9 after being sent in by home skipper Kane Williamson.
Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella (73 not out) rattled the pickets 10 times in a bold counter-attack which left the tourists still in the game when it earlier looked like one-way traffic. Southee ended with 5-67 off 25 overs.
From a precarious 9-3, Sri Lanka fought hard to get their noses in front then were undone by a well telegraphed shortpitched barrage. Still, their score batting first has been bettered only once in the last five Basin tests, when Bangladesh racked up 595-8 declared before losing.
The past four Basin tests have been won by the side bowling first so the Black Caps still hold some cards, but need to bat very well to take charge on days two and three when batsmen usually prosper. Williamson will know that better than most, the world test No 2 averaging 63 at the Basin and 92 against Sri Lanka.
It was all set up for a day of New Zealand domination when Williamson won the toss, the team still buoyed by their 2-1 series win over Pakistan and chasing a 10th straight victory at home in a November-December test.
But there was also potential to stumble, with some players still adjusting to the time difference after their seven weeks in the United Arab Emirates.
Indeed, it was a mixed bag throughout.
A healthy crowd of 3542 who filed in for the season opener had barely unfurled their picnic blankets when it looked as if New Zealand would be batting well before stumps.
A calm, overcast morning was ideal for swing bowling and while Trent Boult wasn’t at his sharpest after playing all three tests in the United Arab Emirates, Southee hit the mark immediately.
Fresh after sitting out the first two Pakistan tests, Southee’s inswing brought opener Danushka Gunathilaka undone then he produced a gem to nick off Dhananjaya de Silva.
When Kusal Mendis picked out mid-on with a loose stroke, Sri Lanka were 9-3 and Southee’s figures were 2-1-2-3.
Unlike West Indies who folded for 134 a year ago after being sent in, Sri Lanka’s senior batsmen knew the Basin’s quirks. The swing continued but there was no seam movement and when the bowlers strayed, runs flowed.
Vice-captain Dimuth Karunaratne scored 150 in his first test in New Zealand, in Christchurch, and former skipper Angelo Mathews was a handy foil. He took on the short ball effectively and his ungainly, angled bat drives flew down the ground.
They added 133 and momentum shifted rapidly. Frustration grew, especially when Colin de Grandhomme overstepped and Karunaratne got a reprieve when caught on 33.
There was only one thing for it: a barrage and the Black Caps’ version of leg theory on the bouncy surface a world away from the UAE dustbowls.
Neil Wagner was the man, having battered West Indies and Bangladesh in New Zealand’s last two test victories at the Basin.
It looked almost desperate but it worked, as Sri Lanka’s batsmen helped by falling into the trap when well set.
Karunaratne (79) took on Wagner and gloved behind, captain Dinesh Chandimal (6) picked out Ajaz Patel at deep square then the big one, Mathews (83), held back on one and gloved to BJ Watling.
That flurry got New Zealand back on the front foot before Dickwella’s late fireworks, including an audacious scoop shot to Southee with the new ball, saw the tourists stand toe to toe and leave the hosts a touch frustrated.