Southee’s good day all round
Whether the Black Caps can remove Angelo Mathews early on day two could have a massive say in who triumphs in the Boxing Day test.
Mathews will resume on 27 today with Sri Lanka 88-4 in response to New Zealand’s first innings total of 178 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.
The former Sri Lankan captain thwarted New Zealand’s chances of winning the first test with an unbeaten 120 and unbroken 274-run stand with Kusal Mendis.
Mathews has an excellent record in New Zealand, scoring 475 runs from six tests at an average of 52.77.
Tim Southee, who hauled New Zealand back into the contest with 68, his second highest test score, after they had been 64-6, said Mathews was a major threat.
Southee also shone with the ball, taking 3-29, continuing his fine record at Hagley Oval, where he had taken 27 wickets at 20.9 in five tests prior to this match.
‘‘That first hour [today] is crucial,’’ Southee said. ‘‘[Mathews is] a class player. He’s played a lot of test cricket and is reasonably familiar with these conditions.
‘‘He had a great start in Wellington, so he’s flying high on confidence. He’s a big wicket.’’
Sent in on a typically green first day Hagley pitch, New Zealand looked like they might battle to reach 100 at one stage.
Southee produced a valuable rearguard innings, teaming up with wicketkeeper BJ Watling, who has developed a reputation for producing gritty knocks.
The pair added 108 for the seventh wicket, which may prove pivotal in the final washup.
Southee felt if New Zealand could get close to 200, considering the early trouble they were in, it would be a competitive score.
Both he and Sri Lankan quick Suranga Lakmal, who destroyed the New Zealand top order, taking career-best test figures of 5-54 in an innings, believed the game was in the balance after day one.
‘‘We knew there was going to be a little bit of assistance for the [Sri Lankan] bowlers,’’ Southee said.
Sri Lanka went away from what had worked well in the first session, producing too many short deliveries to Southee and Watling. When they bowled full and put the ball in the right areas, they were able to cause problems for the New Zealand batsmen.