New Zealand 221, Sri Lanka 9 for one at close:Spin skin of Kiwis by
Herath 5 for 65
By Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from Galle
Clever left arm leg spin bowling by Rangana Herath 5 for 65 and
intelligent seam bowling by Nuwan Kulesekera 2 for 31 and Shamindra
Eranga 3 for 51 helped Sri Lanka bundle out New Zealand for 221.
In the five overs batting left Sri Lanka were 9 for one losing
debutant Dimuth Karunaratne without scoring trapped LBW by an inswinger
from Southee. Karunaratne need not worry because batsmen who made it big
have been out for no score on debut. Paranavithana was not our 0 and
Randiv on 3.
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Sri Lanka bowler Rangana Herath (on left) celebrates the
dismissal of New Zealand cricketer Doug Bracewell during the
first day of the opening Test match between Sri Lanka and
New Zealand at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in
Galle on November 17, 2012. (AFP). |
The wicket played true. There was the early seam and swing and
encouraging spin and batting was not difficult if the batsmen showed
urgency and played their natural strokes. The Kiwis lacked polish in
their batting.
Taylor wins toss
The wicket looked a good one when RossTaylor called correctly and
decided to bat. But like it happens when a wicket is kept covered for
long there is bound to be that early moisture and it was no different
this time round.
Openers Martin Guptil and Brendon McCullum progressed to 29 against
Nuwan Kulesekera and Shamindra Eranga and negotiated the movement. But
in Eranga’s third over the Kiwis lost Guptil 11 and Kane Williamson for
no score.
Eranga was getting good movement and Guptil and Wiliamson were caught
in the slips. Guptil by Angelo Mathews low down at third slip and
Tharanga Paranavithana at first slip gulped Williamson.
Did not last long
Skipper Ross Taylor walked in and did not last long. He drove too
early and dragged an ‘inner’ from Kulesekera on to his stumps.
Kulesekera was always threatening and it was good reward. He made 9
and the score was 40. In the first hour the wicket was going to be
difficult and that was how it was, with the visitors losing their first
three wickets inside the hour. Southpaw Daniel Flyn joined McCullum and
the pair batting watchfully, with a lot of discipline, faced the seam
and spin confidently and went to lunch without further hiccups.
MCCullum was severe on the short balls pulling for fours while Flyn
executed the cover drive with good timing. At lunch New Zealand were 80
for 3 with McCullum on 38 and Flyn on 21 in 28 overs.
Kisses off stump
After lunch McCullum and Flyn added a further 50 runs and at 130
McCullum who was going well and looking good for a big score was bowled
by Herath for 68. The ball pitched middle and off and beat his bat and
kissed off stump.
McCullum hit 8 fours and 2 sixes. His first six was over square leg
off Randiv and the second a lofted drive over mid on off Herath. With
Flyn added 90 runs for the 4th wicket.
After McCullum’s dismissal James Franklin and Flyn got bogged down
and they seemed to be utterly strokeless and their stand of 12 runs came
in 51 minutes off 79 balls. They never attempted to get on top of the
bowling and push it. The agony ended when Franklin was LBW to Herath for
3
Then in the last over before tea, Flyn who was batting doggedly tried
to cut Herath and was snapped up by wicket keeper Prasanna Jayewardene
for 53 in 152 balls with 7 fours in 201 minutes.
Better over rate
The Lankans bowled s better over rate after lunch – 32. 3 overs and
conceded 75 runs. Herath in particular bowled a good line and length and
did not allow the batsmen to break free. The Kiwis took tea on 155 for
6.
After tea the Kiwis lost Doug Bracewell for 12 caught by Jayewardene
in the slips for 12 off Herath, then Kruyger wan Wyk swung wildly at
Herath and was bowled for 28 with 3 fours, Tim Southee was caught by a
diving Mathews at point cutting off Eranga and the last man out was
Trent Boult when Kulesekera knocked back his middle stump with an
‘inner’ for 7 with the second ball with the second new ball. Jetan Patel
was not out 12.
Herath had figures of 5 for 65,Eranga 3 for 51 and Kulesekera 2 for
31.
Blazing sun
On Thursday and Friday it had rained in the evenings, but
surprisingly it did not rain on Friday and when the two captains, Mahela
Jayewardene and Ross Taylor walked out to toss with the sun blazing down
on the ground.
With opener Tillekeratne Dilshan out due to injury, Sri Lanka gave
former Josephian and Sinhalese Sports Club left handed opener Dimuth
Karunaratne his first Test cap which would have been a great moment for
the youngster.
Karunaratne was presented his cap by another former Sri Lankan
dashing left handed opening batsman and now manager of the team Charith
Senanayake who would have wished him tons of runs and a long career.
Stamp his class
It is everyone’s wish that Karunaratne will announce his arrival and
stamp his class with a memorable knock that will keep him in the frame
when the openers lot falls vacant.
Sri Lanka went in with three seam bowlers – Nuwan Kulesekera,
Shamindra Eranga and Angelo Mathews and two spinners Rangana Herath and
Suraj Randiv. New Zealand went in with the seam of Tim Southee, Trent
Boult, Doug Bracewell and James Franklin with Jetan Patel to provide the
spin.
Debutants out without scoring: It was history repeating itself
Former Sri Lanka opening batsman and team manager Charith Senanayeke
presented Debutant Dimuth Karunaratne his Test cap. Karunaratne did not
have the opportunity to make a big score and was out for a duck.
Believe it or not Senanayake suffered the same fate being out for a
duck and also against New Zealand.
NEW ZEALAND - 1ST INNINGS:
M Guptill c Mathews b Eranga 11
B. McCullum b Herath 68
K. Williamson c Paranavitana b Eranga 00
R. Taylor b Kulasekara 09
D Flynn c P. Jayawardene b Herath 53
J. Franklin lbw b Herath 03
K. Van Wyk b Herath 28
Bracewell c M. Jayawardene b Herath 12
T. Southee c Mathews b Eranga 16
J. Patel not out 12
T. Boult b Kulasekara 07
Extras (lb1, nb1) 02
Total (for all out; 82.5 overs) 221
Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Guptill), 2-29 (Williamson), 3-40 (Taylor)
4-130 (McCullum), 5-142 (Franklin), 6-155 (Flynn)
7-181 (Bracewell), 8-196 (van Wyk), 9-207 (Southee)
10-221 (Boult)
Bowling: Kulasekara 12.5-5-31-2 (nb1)
Eranga 16-5-51-3
Mathews 3-0-11-0
Herath 30-5-65-5
Randiv 21-1-62-0
SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS:
T. Paranavitana not out 00
Karunaratne lbw b Southee 00
S. Randiv not out 03
Extras (b4, lb2) 06
Total (for one wicket; 5 overs) 09
Fall of wicket: 1-2 (Karunaratne)
Bowling: Boult 3-2-2-0
Southee 2-1-1-1 |
