RECORD BREAKERS
Black Caps demolish Sri Lanka
in Christchurch The Black Caps are closing in on their most dominant test victory of all time and a record winning streak. These, truly, are among New Zealand cricket’s halcyon days.
Another incredibly lopsided day at Hagley Oval has put the hosts just eight wickets away from a test and series-clinching victory — a win that would secure an unprecedented fourth straight series triumph.
Frankly, anything else would be the greatest shock in cricket history, considering the monumental task facing Sri Lanka after they were swatted all over the ground on day three yesterday.
The Black Caps racked up a staggering 585-4, with Tom Latham (176) and Henry Nicholls (162 not out) batting the visitors out of the test, before Colin de Grandhomme (71 not out from 45 balls) twisted the knife with New Zealand’s fastest test 50.
It all seemed rather cruel, with Black Caps captain Kane Williamson biding his time before eventually calling in his troops when their lead hit
660 — setting the eighth-largest target in test history.
Unlike in Wellington, where they went a day without losing a wicket, surely this time there is no hope left for Sri Lanka. They lost both openers in the 14 overs before stumps, there is no rain forecast to save them, and so they have to bat for two straight days to save the test.
It won’t happen. It can’t happen. Another record-setting conclusion is the more likely outcome. If you want to get ahead of yourself, consider that since 1934, no team has won a test by more than 500 runs. At worst, New Zealand’s biggest test victory — 254 runs — is surely set to be broken following a day in which plenty of records tumbled.
Let’s start with Tom Latham. The
26-year-old has truly cemented himself as the opener of the future, becoming the first New Zealand opener to reach 150 on three occasions. Resuming on 74, he again looked at ease at he slowly ground his way to his eighth test century from
267 balls.
Latham ended up facing 889 balls this series, the most by a New Zealand batsman in a two-test series, and in the midst of it all, he became the first New Zealander since Brendon McCullum to reach 150 in consecutive tests. He added 214 for the fourth wicket with Nicholls, who continued the onslaught when Latham went.
It was a day, and an innings, where everyone contributed for the hosts. All the top six reached 40 — for just the second time in New Zealand test history, and all five partnerships were of
50 runs or more, a New Zealand first. Nicholls was involved in two and brought up his third century of the year with a chanceless innings. And, just when everyone expected a declaration, he came back after tea to reach his highest test score.
It seemed as if milestones were being racked up every over, and de Grandhomme only added to Sri Lanka’s demise. He brought up his record 50 off 28 balls — one ball faster than Tim Southee’s effort on debut in
2008 — and he and Nicholls added an unbeaten 124 in just 87 balls.
Finally, Williamson put the Sri Lankan bowlers out of their misery, but the pain wasn’t over.
Dimuth Karunaratne was caught down the legside for a second-ball duck and Danushka Gunathilaka was caught behind swiping for four.
Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis saw them through to stumps at 24-2.