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While India are struggling to seal their World Test Championship (WTC) final spot, Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka are making Indian fans nervous after top-notch performances on first two days of Christchurch Test. Despite Tom Latham's gritty half-century, New Zealand are struggling with five wickets down and a 193-run trail still to get rid of.
Another fifer for Southee
On Day 2, the host got off to an ideal start. Skipper Tim Southee and Matt Henry took two wickets each to wrap up Sri Lanka's first innings. The visitors added 50 runs to Sri Lanka's overnight score as they posted 355. Southee started off with Dhananjaya de Silva's (46) wicket who missed his half-century by just four runs. He took the last wicket as well and completed his 15th fifer in Test cricket.
Sri Lanka pacers on the money
As New Zealand openers came out to bat, they struggled against Sri Lankan pacers who were consistent with their lines. After beating the edge several times, Asitha Fernando got the breakthrough in form of Devon Conway who got lbw after scoring 30 runs. After the 67-run opening partnership, two quick wickets fell. Centurion of previous game, former skipper Kane Williamson (1) went for a drive and hit it straight to Karunaratne. Henry Nicholls (2) was invited for a pull shot by Lahiru Kumar but he could not pick the length and got caught by Rajitha at mid-wicket.
From 67 for no loss, New Zealand lost three wickets in a space of seven runs. Daryl Mitchell carried on his form and batted well with Latham to put on 58 runs for the fourth wicket. Latham's knock came to an end by a brilliant delivery from Fernando. The yorker beat Latham's flick shot and hit his toes before crashing into the stumps. The opener scored 67 runs from 144 deliveries including seven fours.
Tough last session
Tom Blundell struggled during his short stay at the crease. Rajitha ended his knock with a delivery that managed a thin edge off his bat and landed in wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella's gloves. In the final few overs, Rajitha troubled both Mitchell and Michael Bracewell. Mitchell batted for more than two hours and scored 40 runs from 89 deliveries including two fours and one six. On the other end, Bracewell is unbeaten on nine runs from 18 deliveries.
Sri Lanka need miracle
With New Zealand 162/5 at the end of Day 2’s play, Sri Lanka have kept their chances to reach WTC final alive. So far, Sri Lanka have won only two Tests on New Zealand soil. Their last Test win in New Zealand came in December 2006 under the leadership of Mahela Jayawardene. If Sri Lanka are to qualify for WTC final, they will need to cleansweep New Zealand and hope the Ahmedabad Test ends in a draw or India’s loss.
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