Kiwis fashion an incredible win over Sri Lanka
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Arjuna Ranatunga – the only batsman who stuck it out in the
second innings and made 51 in the second innings total of 97
all out.
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FLASHBACK: What a mess it turned out to be for Sri Lanka! The first
Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand which looked like heading for a
certain draw at close of play on the penultimate day, took a catalysmic
change after the visitors (New Zealand) declare their second innings
closed at 201 for 8 wickets shortly after lunch on the final day at
Asgiriya and New Zealand picked up an unexpected win, crashing through
the second innings of Sri Lanka. In the first innings, New Zealand made
276. When New Zealand declared their second innings with an overall lead
of 262 runs with 2 hours and 10 minutes and the 20 mandatory overs
remaining, no one except New Zealand skipper Geoff Howarth would have
visualised a victory, as there seemingly wasn't enough time for the
visitors to dismiss Sri Lanka in so short a time.
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Richard Hadlee was the main bowler of New Zealand. He took 4
for 35 in Sri Lanka first innings of 215 runs and then in
the second innings he had the fine figures of 4 for 8 in
seven overs with four maidens. |
John Bracewell – he captured 2 for 36 in Sri Lanka first
innings total of 215and then had a wicket for 54 runs in the
second innings total of 97 all out.
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Vinothan John – bowled his heart out in both innings. He
took 5 for 86 in the New Zealand first innings total of 276
and in second innings he took 5 for 73. However, New Zealand
went on to win the match. |
Geoff Howarth – Made 62 in the New Zealand total of 276 and
then in the second innings he made 60 in the New Zealand
total of 201.
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Howorth's somewhat wishful thinking turned out to be real and New
Zealand scored an incredible victors by 165 runs with an hour and 10
minutes to spare.
Rains the damper
It sounds incredible. The first day of this Test played at the
Asgiriya International Stadium was washed out by the overnight rain
which made parts of the ground soggy and two hours play was lost on the
second day owing to the outfield not drying up. So, with one and
one-third day's play lost, a result was not in most people's mind.
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Ranjan Madugalle made 33 in the Sri Lanka first innings
total of 215. |
But Howarth must surely have sensed Sri Lanka's poor showing in New
Zealand the previous year and also in the first innings of this Test
that he made the declaration in the second innings, which at first
looked a token one, but proved otherwise, as New Zealand like panthers
tore Sri Lanka's batting apart and dismissed the island nation for 97 in
the second innings - the second lowest score by the home side in a Test.
Ironically, the lowest score in the nine Tests played upto then by
Sri Lanka was 93 in the second Test against Sri Lanka when Sri Lanka
toured that country in 1983.
Haddlee strikes
After New Zealand made 276 in their first innings, New Zealand's
champion bowler Richard Hadlee struck terror among the Sri Lankan
batsmen and had Sri Lanka out in the first innings for 215. Hadlee took
4 for 35 in the first innings and came the all important second innings,
Hadlee took 4 for 8 to have a match-bag of 8 for 43. Sri Lanka were out
for a mere 97 in their second innings.
Besides Hadlee, there was Boock who took 2 for 63 in the first
innings who tightened his bowling in the second innings and took 5 for
28 in the pathetic looking Sri Lanka second innings to wrap up the match
for New Zealand.
Sri Lanka who made 215 in their first innings simply had no answer to
Hadlee and Boock in the second innings. There was only Arjuna Ranatunga
who had the courage to stick it out there in the middle and make 51 in
the Sri Lanka's pathetic second innings total of 97.
A.C. De S
SCOREBOARD
NEW ZEALAND – 1ST INNINGS
G.P. Howarth c De Alwis b John 62
J.G. Wright lbw b John 45
J.F. Reid c Kaluperuma b Amerasinghe 26
M.D. Crowe c Ratnayake b De Silva 26
J.J. Crowe c sub (Karnain) b John 20
J.V. Coney lbw b Ratnayake 25
R.J. Hadlee c Ranatunga b John 29
I.D.S. Smith b Ranatunga 30
L. Cairns c De Alwis b Ranatunga 00
J.D. Bracewell c De Silva b John 04
S.L. Boock not out 02
Extras (b-1, lb-1, w-5) 07
Total 276
Fall of wickets: 1-97, 2-124, 3-165, 4-169, 5-210, 6-236
7-266, 8-266, 9-272
Bowling: Vinodhan John 29.1-7-86-5
Rumesh Ratnayake 15-4-45-1
A. Ranatunga 9-3-17-2
D.S. De Silva 29-6-69-1
J. Amerasinghe 12-3-45-1
S. Kaluperuma 6-3-7-0
SRI LANKA – 1ST INNINGS
Sidath Wettimuny c Bracewell b Hadlee 00
S. Fernando c Hadlee b Boock 29
S Kaluperuma c Howarth b Bracewell 18
Rumesh Ratnayake c Smith b Hadlee 06
Mendis c Bracewell b Hadlee 05
R. Madugalle c M.D. Crowe b Hadlee 33
J. A. Ranatunga c Bracewell b Cairns 20
D.S.de Silva b Bracewell 11
G. de Alwis lbw b Boock 26
Vinodhan John not out 27
J. Amerasinghe run out 34
Extras (lb-2, nb-4) 06
Total 215
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-38, 3-55, 4-55, 5-61, 6-89, 7-120
8-132, 9-155
Bowling: R.J. Hadlee 20.5-7-35-4
L. Cairns 18-3-71-1
M.D. Crowe 9-1-4-0
S.L. Boock 23-7-63-2
J.D. Bracewell 15-4-36-2
NEW ZELAND – 2ND INNINGS
G.P. Howarth lbw b John 60
J.G. Wright b John 04
J.F. Reid c Ranatunga b De Silva 30
M.D. Crowe st. De Alwis b De Silva 08
J.J. Crowe c Amerasinghe b Kaluperuma 09
J.V. Coney not out 03
R.J. Hadlee c sub (Karnain) b Kaluperuma 27
D.S. Smith not out 31
L. Cairns c Wettimuny b De Silva 02
J.D. Bracewell c Amerasinghe b John 21
Extras (b-2, lb-1, w-3) 06
Total (for 8 wkts dec.) 201
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-75, 3-111, 4-127, 5-133, 6-137
7-167, 8-167
Boiwling: Vinodhan John 17.5-1-73-5
A. Ranatunga 4-0-14-0
D.S. De Silva 21-2-59-3
J. Amerasinghe 8-2-32-0
S. Kaluperuma 4-0-17-2
SRI LANKA – 2ND INNINGS
Sidath Wettimuny c Smith b Hadlee 05
S. Fernando lbw b Hadlee 02
S. Kaluperuma c J.J. Crowe b Boock 05
Rumesh Ratnayake lbw b Boock 12
D. Mendis b Hadlee 00
R. Madugalle c Bracewell b Hadlee 02
A. Ranatunga c and b Bracewell 51
D.S. De Silva c Coney b Boock 00
G.de Alwis c Howarth b Boock 19
Vinodhan John c Wright b Boock 00
J. Amerasinghe not out 00
Extras (nb-1) 01
Total 97
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-12, 3-12, 4-14, 5-18, 6-18, 7-55
8-97, 9-97
Bowling: R.J. Hadlee 7-4-8-4
L. Cairns 4-1-6-0
S.L. Boock 9.3-4-28-5
J.D. Bracewell 7-1-54-1
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