Sri Lanka bundled out for 154

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from New Zealand

CRICKET: A pathetic batting display by the Sri Lankans handed over the advantage and probably the Test match to New Zealand at the end of the first day's play in the first National Bank Test series which began at the Jade Stadium in Christchurch, here today.

After dismissing Sri Lanka for 154 in 52.4 overs, the Black caps hit back scoring 85 for 2, to take control with four overs remaining to be bowled when bad light stopped play.with opener Craig Cumming unbeaten on 36 and skipper Stephen Fleming on 7.

It was overcast with a cool wind blowing when Mahela Jayawardena and Stephen Fleming walked in for the toss which was won by Jayawardena who did not hesitate to take first strike on a wicket that had a top dressing of grass on it. Jayawardena came in for a bit of criticism for deciding to bat.

But in his defence it must be said that when a toss is won it is right to bat first. It was not his fault. It was just insensible batting that saw Sri Lanka collapse for a meagre score.

It is accepted that there was early life in the wicket which the Kiwi pacemen used to their advantage. Shane Bond was bowling at express speed and getting the ball to lift disconcertingly and move off a good length.

What the Lankan batsmen should have done was to follow the ball and get into line before executing.

But this fundamental they failed to do and all of the batsmen were playing and missing more deliveries than that what they connected with. It was a sad indictment on their technique.. While Jayawardena said he would bat,Fleming said he did not mind losing the toss. As it later proved,it was a good toss to lose.

Bond who seems to have recovered from his injuries, ripped the heart out of the Lankan batting and then had the three most experienced batsmen Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena back in the pavilion with the score on 37.

Jayasuriya and Sangakkara went failing to read the movement caught in the slips, while Jayawardena played a weak hook shot to be caught at square leg.. Jayasuriya made 5, Sangakkara 4 and Jayawardena 8.

When Bond finished his first spell where he wrecked the batting he had figures of 3 for 31 in 7 overs.

Upul Tharanga and Chamara Kapugedera although not facing with any confidence, struggled to take the score to 77 for three at lunch with Tharanga on 27 and Kapugedera on 23.

A rot set in after lunch when left armer James Franklin struck crippling blows having Tharanga caught in the gully by How for 33 with 2 fours and a six and following up with the wicket of Kapugedera having him plumb in front for 37 with 7 fours. Both went with the score on 87.

Chamara Silva who was making his Test debut suffered a devil of a baptism when Franklin bowled him with a beauty that cut in after pitching to creep between bat and pad to knock his off stump out of the ground before he had scored. It was a beginning Silva would soon want to forget.

He can take heart by the fact that many great batsmen have started their careers failing to score in their first outing.

Prasanna Jayawardena was caught in the gully by How for 7, Chaminda Vaas was caught behind by Brian McCallum for 4 off Jacob Oram. Farveez Maharoof went top edging a delivery from Oram to Fleming in the slips for 15 and Muttiah Muralitheran after being dropped twice, after a few baseball like hits was caught at point for 14 and Lasith Malinga remained not out on 7.

When Chris Martin captured the first of his two wickets that of Jayawardena he registered his 100th victim in his 32nd Test.

Martin richly deserved the congratulations from his team mates and the cheers from a poor first day crowd. Shane Bond had 3 for 43, Chris Martin 2 for 37, James Franklin 3 for 30 and Jacob Oram 2 for 30.

When New Zealand replied Malinga had Jamie How LBW for no score with the score on 3 and later Vaas had the recalled Matthew Sinclair taken behind by Jayawardena for 36 with the score on 73. Cumming on 37 and Fleming on 7 saw out the day when bad light halted play.

The Lankans will have an uphill task to perform and restrict the Kiwis when play begins on day two. Muralitheran who was expected to trouble the homesters, failed to extract any vicious turn and the batsmen did not have any difficulty facing him.

SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS

U. Tharanga c How b Franklin 		33
T. Jayasuriya c Fleming b Bond 		5
K. Sangakkara c Sinclair b Bond 		4
M. Jayawardene c Franklin b Bond 	8
C. Kapugedera lbw Franklin 		37
C. Silva b Franklin 			0
P. Jayawardene c How b Martin 		7
C. Vaas c McCullum b Oram 		4
F. Maharoof c Fleming b Oram 		15
L. Malinga not out 			7
M. Muralitharan c Astle b Martin 		14
Extras (lb-13, w-1, nb-6) 		20

TOTAL (all out, 52.4 overs) 		154

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-11, 2-17, 3-37, 4-87, 5-87, 6-106, 7-110, 8-121, 9-132, 10-154.
BOWLING: Bond 13-2-43-3 (1nb), Martin 16.3-2-37-1 (3nb, 1w), 
	Franklin 12-0-30-3 (2nb), Oram 10-5-30-2, Astle 1-0-1-0.

NEW ZEALAND - 1ST INNINGS

C. Cumming not out 			37
J. How lbw b Malinga 			0
M. Sinclair c P. Jayawardene b Vaas 	36
S. Fleming not out 			7
Extras (nb-5) 			5

TOTAL (2 wkts, 33 overs) 		85

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-3, 2-73.
BOWLING: Vaas 11-2-34-1 (1nb), Malinga 7-2-14-1 (2nb), 
	Maharoof 7-2-25-0 (2nb), Muralitharan 8-1-12-0.
 	Christchurch, Thursday