Sri Lanka v New Zealand – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 still 256 runs short by lunch
Following a disappointing performance from the top-order in their 363-run chase, Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews dug his heels in to get the team’s innings back on track after the attack launched by New Zealand’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TG-Southee-c2659 and Doug Bracewell the day before,
and succeeded in getting the Lions up to 107 for 5 by lunch on the final day, at the P Sara Oval in Colombo today on November 29.
Twin centuries, from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HMRKB-Herath-c1559 (49-10-103-6) managing to ultimately restrict the visitors to a first innings total of 412.
The Lankan Lions’ first innings, however, had failed to serve as an adequate reply to the Black Caps’ performance. Southee (22-4-62-5) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Trent-Boult-c2708 (21-7-42-4) made light work of the opposition’s batting order, and only a meagre handful of contributions
– from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TT-Samaraweera-c2712 (76), and Suraj Randiv (39) – enabled the team to avoid a follow-on, and reach 244 before they were all out.
The hosts then went on to make up for their dismal batting performance with a reasonably effective bowling attack. Herath (21-3-67-3) was once again the danger-man, and aided by Suraj Randiv (11-1-37-2) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KMDN-Kulasekara-c1802 (12-2-47-2), managed to restrict
most of the Kiwi batsmen to mediocre individual totals during their second turn at bat. Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Todd-Astle-c2697 (35) were the only ones who managed to put up a fight, but the Kiwis already had a substantial lead,
and declared at 194 for 9, setting Sri Lanka a 363-run target.
The Lankans’ top-order once again underwent a complete collapse during the final chase, with opener Paranavitana dismissed on duck, while the experienced trio of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 (5) failed, yet again,
to make solid contributions. By stumps on day four, the team was at 47 for 4.
Come day five, Samaraweera (7) was unable to repeat his first innings heroics, and with Southee (13-3-29-2) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Doug-Bracewell-c1394 (8-5-8-2) having inflicted a fair amount of damage, Sri Lanka’s batting order was severely depleted. However, coming in at number
6, Mathews (27*) dug his heels in, and assisted by wicketkeeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 up to 107 for 5 by lunch – 256 runs short of the target, with 5 wickets remaining.
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