Taylor rescues Black Caps with sweat and toil Online
If Ross Taylor had any lingering demons seven years on from his lowest cricketing moment, he did a great job of hiding them at Galle International Stadium.
Back at the scene of his last test series as captain in 2012 before being removed, Taylor produced another batting masterclass to haul up a wobbly New Zealand first innings in the first test against Sri Lanka.
When a storm halted play with 22 overs left to bowl on day one, Taylor was unbeaten on 86 and the Black Caps were 203-5 after Kane Williamson won a hugely important coin toss.
In his 93rd test, Taylor moved within sight of his 19th century and plenty more toil was required For the latest on the first test, go to stuff.co.nz
in an even contest. They’re nowhere near as dominant as they hoped to be, and a total of 300 will be New Zealand’s minimum requirement to help unleash their three-spin attack on a pitch already offering generous turn.
‘‘I’m not sure of a number but certainly as many as we can,’’ Henry Nicholls said. ‘‘We know that first innings runs in this part of the world is massive. The wicket will be harder to bat on so you get that first innings total as big as you can then it certainly makes things easier in the game.’’
Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner Akila Dananjaya was as impressive as Taylor, snaring all five Black Caps wickets in a return of 5-57 off 22 overs. In a photo finish it was Taylor’s day, though, facing 131 balls in his lively, purposeful innings.
Striding to the crease just before lunch as New Zealand lost 3-7 in 24 balls, including Williamson for a three-ball duck, Taylor looked as comfortable and carefree as he ever has.
After all he’d been in tougher spots before, notably seven years ago when he already knew he’d lose the captaincy and scored 142 and 74 in the series-levelling win in Colombo. That was his most recent Sri Lankan knock; while his last test innings was an even 200 against Bangladesh in Wellington in March.
Immediately he put the pressure back on Sri Lanka’s bowlers and captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who botched the best chance to remove Taylor on 37 with an errant throw when he was short of his ground.
There was minimal pressure from the other bowlers with retired spin whiz Rangana Herath’s absence still being felt.
At the other end it verged on carnage as the batsmen were either too tentative or picked the wrong shot.