SL VS NZ 2ND TEST

All the 3 sessions belonged to the Sri Lankans. They will come out on Day 2 and try to bat for as long as they can. New Zealand though have their task cut out. The bowlers have a fairly new ball at their disposal, but New Zealand will certainly need sharper fielding and discipline with the ball to shift momentum on Day 2. Will they be able to pull their socks up? To find out, do join us on 27th September, Friday at 4.30 am GMT. ADIOS!

In the final session we saw 28 overs being bowled where Sri Lanka managed to score 112 runs and lost just a single wicket. They would've loved to remained unscathed but will be delighted to have a solid grip on this game. New Zealand showed great intent, with Glenn Phillips and Ajaz Patel bowling in tandem. Phillips was economical, but Ajaz Patel struggled to find his rhythm early on. Phillips eventually dismissed Chandimal just before the new ball was due, but the session slowed down a bit until the second new ball, with the scoring rate dipping under 3. Despite creating chances with the second new cherry, New Zealand’s fielding let them down, dropping two key catches. Kamindu Mendis and Angelo Mathews capitalized on the errors and constructed a solid unbeaten stand of 85 runs, with Mendis reaching his half-century as they closed the day in a strong position.

A superb day for Sri Lanka. They dominated throughout. They have lost just three wickets with a little over 300 runs on the scoreboard. Surely, a day to forget for the Kiwis. First, they lost the toss, and then were very sloppy in the field as well which did not help their cause.

An appeal for LBW, but the umpire is unmoved! This is tossed up by Santner and it slides down on the pads with a bit of dip as well. Kamindu Mendis strides in front to defend it but misses and wears it on his pads. A polite enquiry turned down by the umpire and that will be STUMPS ON DAY 1.

Looped up, full and on off, Kamindu Mendis dances down the track and pushes it back to Santner.

Length ball on middle, Mathews rocks back and punches it towards sweeper cover for one.

Full and around off, this is worked down to long on for one.

FOUR! ANOTHER FIFTY FOR KAMINDU MENDIS! And this has come off just 53 deliveries! Pitched up, around off, Kamindu Mendis executes the reverse sweep to perfection this time around and gets a boundary towards deep third. 5th Test FIFTY for Kamindu Mendis. He now has 50-plus scores in all 8 matches he has featured so far. The first Sri Lankan to do so!

Santner bowls from over the stumps, floats it up, full and outside off, Kamindu Mendis sits down to reverse sweep it but wears on his front pad. A muted appeal for LBW, but just momentarily.

On a much tighter line, on middle, Angelo Mathews gets behind the line and taps it to short mid-wicket. Last over remaining to wrap up the first day now.

Quite full in length, around off, Angelo Mathews pushes it straight back to Southee.

Tap and run! And with that, 300 comes up for Sri Lanka! Fuller in length, and around off, Kamindu Mendis waits for the ball to arrive and guides it to the left of point for an easy single. The partnership now moves on to 79.

Pitched on the good length, outside off and angling in, Kamindu Mendis rides the bounce and punches it to cover off the back foot.

Swinging into the batter from outside off, full in length, Kamindu Mendis pushes at it to mid-wicket.

Southee is back into the attack, and bowls full around middle and off, Angelo Mathews clips it wide of mid on and steals a quick single.

Short in length, and fairly outside off, Angelo Mathews slaps to deep backward point for a single.

A SEED OF A DELIVERY BY SANTNER! How has that missed the off peg? Mitchell Santner lands this one quite full and gets a good grip as the ball turns away from the batter, Angelo Mathews is drawn on the front foot and looks to defend it but the ball turns excessively and first beats his outside edge and then goes centimeters past the off stump.