Southee’s good day all round
Tim Southee saved New Zealand’s blushes with the bat and then ripped through Sri Lanka’s top order to leave the deciding test delicately poised.
Coming to the wicket with his side in dire straits at 64-6 on the opening day of the Boxing Day test at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, Southee produced an important rearguard innings.
Southee and Northern Districts team-mate BJ Watling combined for what could prove a vital 108-run seventh wicket partnership, Southee blasting 68 from 65 balls, which included six fours and three sixes.
Without that partnership it would have been ugly stuff for New Zealand, who were dismissed for a disappointing 178.
Southee didn’t take long to make an impact with the ball.
He had opener Dimuth Karunaratne caught in the gully by Kane Williamson and then overtook Chris Martin (233 wickets) as New Zealand’s third leading test wicket-taker when skipper Dinesh Chandimal was caught behind.
Southee added a third after Danushka Gunathilaka fell pulling to Jeet Raval on the rope at deep square leg, leaving Sri Lanka in tatters at 21-3.
New Zealand had hauled themselves back into the contest by stumps after Colin de Grandhomme broke the partnership between Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka’s heroes from the first test draw in Wellington with their unbroken 274-run stand.
Sri Lanka were 88-4 at the close of play, trailing by 90 runs in the first innings.
With the bat, Southee looked set to surpass his test best of 77 not out, achieved on debut against England in 2008 before being well caught by Gunathilaka at short midwicket ending his big-hitting cameo.
Watling went fourth ball after tea for 46 with Sri Lanka, who were excellent in the field, taking another sharp chance through Dilruwan Perera at gully.
Veteran quick Suranga Lakmal was superb for the tourists. Lakmal, who was uninspiring in the first test in Wellington with 1-88 in the first innings, led the way nabbing the first four wickets and finishing with 5-54 from 19 overs.