Tons for Latham, Nicholls
Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls couldn’t have scripted it any better.
The Black Caps’ Canterbury duo playing at their Hagley Oval home ground in Christchurch produced starring roles on day three of the second test against Sri Lanka on Friday.
They each brought up centuries and combined for a 214-run fourth wicket partnership, which was snapped before tea when Latham was caught behind for 176. Their huge partnership put New Zealand in a match-winning position, declaring at 585-4 in their second innings, setting Sri Lanka a mammoth 660 to win.
It was the eighth test ton for Latham and the fourth for Nicholls, but for both it was their first test century in their home city.
Nicholls went on to make 162 not out, his highest score in tests. The 27-year-old has made the No 5 test spot his own in 2018, also scoring 145 not out against England at Eden Park in March and an unbeaten 126 in the third test win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, which helped New Zealand to a 2-1 away series win.
It was another classy innings from Nicholls, who didn’t take any risks, nudging the ball around for ones and twos, but finding the fence when it was there to be hit.
Nicholls looks set to finish 2018 with the best average in test cricket (73.11), scoring 658 runs in the calendar year from seven matches, the same number as Latham.
Once Latham departed, Colin de Grandhomme kept the scoreboard ticking over with Nicholls. He blasted a typically aggressive 71 not out from 45 balls, featuring six fours and two sixes.
His half century came off just 28 balls, the fastest by a Kiwi test batsman.
Nicholls and Latham frustrated Sri Lanka finding the gaps and punishing the short, wide deliveries. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, who were down on confidence as the lead continued to soar.
They didn’t ask enough questions of the pair and their standards in the field, which were impressive on the first day, also slipped.
Sri Lanka would need to break the highest successful fourth innings chase (418) achieved by the West Indies against Australia in St John’s in 2002-03 to pull of an unlikely win, which would also clinch the test series.
Latham was the star of the drawn first test in Wellington last week, hitting a test best 264 not out and was involved for the whole match either as a batsman or fielder.
He fell for 10 in the first innings in Christchurch, being caught at second slip off Suranga Lakmal, but picked up where he left off in the capital in the second dig.
The left-hander provided few chances for the Sri Lankan fieldsmen with the only opportunity being a difficult one for Dushmantha Chameera at third man on 32. He hit 10 boundaries in his century. Latham’s 176 was just short of his second highest test score of 177 achieved against Bangladesh in Wellington in January, 2017. It has been a stellar series against Sri Lanka for him, scoring 450 runs from three innings at a stunning average of 225.
New Zealand lost Ross Taylor for 40 early on day three after missing a straight one from Lahiru Kumara, and being struck on the pad. For the latest on the test go to stuff.co.nz