Sri Lanka v New Zealand – New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka (1st Test) – Match Recap – Sri Lanka win by 10 wickets
A poor batting performance, weakened by the fierce onslaughts of spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, with the hosts going on to clinch a comprehensive 10-wicket victory at the Galle International
Stadium after battling it out from November 17 to 19.
Player of the Match Herath proved to be the Lankan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808’ prime weapon, as the clueless Kiwis struggled against spin on the tricky sub-continental pitches. Their bowling was comparatively better, but did not compensate for their dismal performance with the
bat. With batting order collapses galore, the match was concluded within 3 days.
The visitors’ found themselves severely hampered during their first innings by the wily Herath (30-5-65-5), http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KMDN-Kulasekara-c1802 (12.5-5-31-2), all of whom joined forces to bowl the Black Caps out for 221 during their first innings.
Most of the Kiwi batsmen managed to get starts, but were unable to hold their own against the Lankan bowlers, and found themselves dismissed for paltry scores. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adrian-Roger-Kirshaw-Pierson-c42135 it out
at the crease long enough to post competitive totals. However, their lone efforts were not enough the save the team.
The Lankan batsmen, however, put forth an equally dismal batting performance, which levelled the playing field between both teams. Pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JS-Patel-c1747 (23-7-55-3) also
made good use of the pitch. Youngster Trent Boult (16.2-3-46-2) chipped in with a supporting performance, and the tourists managed to reduce Sri Lanka, all out, to a first innings total of 247.
The top four – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 (5) were all dismissed for paltry scores, and the saving grace of the team’s innings proved to be a 156-run partnership for the 6th wicket,
between skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 (79). The remainder of the batting order failed to fire, and the Lankans only managed to gain a meagre 26-run lead.
Faced with the task of having to set a substantial target, New Zealand were understandably under pressure, but looked to have ample time to rack up a decent score. However, their performance during their second innings turned out to be far worse than what
they had put forth during their first turn at bat.
Herath (18-3-43-6) was once again the danger-man, with the Kiwi batsmen struggling to pick the Lankan left-arm spinner, and helped by Kulasekara (12-4-28-2) and Randiv (10.1-0-37-2), the Lankan Lions succeeded in keeping their visitors in line. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980,
Brendon McCullum, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Daniel-Flynn-c1309’s 20. Day 3 saw the Kiwis bowled for 118, setting their hosts a meagre 93-run target.
Predictably, Sri Lanka faced no difficulties during the chase, and openers Paranavitana (31*) and Karunaratne (60*) guided their team home safely, setting up an unbeaten 93-run stand which won the home team the match, with 10 wickets to spare.
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