Kiwis level series
Ranjan Anandappa
New Zealand ended their lean spell of Test match wins defeating Sri
Lanka by 167 runs and square the two match Test series 1-1in the second
and final cricket Test at the P. Sara Oval yesterday.
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Angelo Mathews who played a fighting knock of 84 against New
Zealand in the final Test. AFP |
Set to make 363 runs to win off 97 overs Sri Lanka were all out for
195. Despite a lone fighting innings of 84 ( facing 228 deliveries with
11 fours and 2 sixes) by Angelo Mathews who was unbeaten overnight on
one with Samaraweera, the rest of the batsmen gave a woeful display
during the run chase. Mathews who batted throughout the innings finally
was caught in the slips for the jubilation of the Kiwis.
The New Zealanders who have lost five consecutive Tests finally found
their winning formula and it should be a great inspiration for their
future South African tour which will get underway in December and a
great disappointment and food for thought for the Sri Lankans who will
be in Australia during the same period of time in December.
New Zealand last defeated Sri Lanka in 1998 at the R.Premadasa
Stadium under the leadership of Stephen Flemming.
The day began with only a mild hope of Sri Lanka saving the Test.
They needed 316 runs to win with 6 wickets in hand in about 107 overs
for the day. But a draw and keeping the 2 match series 1-0 was good
enough. Samaraweera the first innings top scorer and the deputy Angelo
Mathew who unbeaten batsmen overnight with a run each resumed their
innings. Both batsmen seemed to have settled in to their grooves and
determination written all over their face . The three New Zealand
quickies.
Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell threw everything to make
the declaration worth while and visibly succeeded. Bracewell extracting
life off the pitch got on to lift that hit Samaraweera on his helmet and
went for four leg byes. The lack of pace in the wicket was not conducive
to fluent stroke play and the Kiwi bowlers extremely accurate were doing
a good job in extracting pace on a lifeless pitch applying the pressure
on the Lankan batsmen.
As long as Mathews and Samaraweera were together there was a fight in
the hands for the visitors. Mathews and Samaraweera have never batted
their best together were now Sri Lanka’s last hopes. If New Zealand
could break them up they were through to end their miserable run in Test
in the recent past. This was duly done within nine overs.
It was in a situation like this that disaster struck to the Lankans.
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New Zealand cricketer Todd Astle (L) celebrates with
teammates after he dismissed unseen Sri Lankan batsman
Prasanna Jayawardene. AFP |
Samaraweera adding another 6 runs to his overnight score pushed one
in to the covers and took off blindly for a run which was not there,
Mathews did not budge from his crease and Jeetan Patel the fielder who
had to move a few yards picked and threw the ball to keeper Van Wyke
took the bails off and the inevitable defeat eventuated.
After that crucial breakthrough the rest of the post lunch session
was frustrating for the visitors as Mathews joined by wicket keeper
Prasanna Jayawardene batted sensibly mixing caution with occasional
aggression on a pitch that had no purchase for the fast bowlers.
The New Zealand attack was largely concentrated on theor three
pacemen Southee, Boult and Bracewell with little or no support coming
from the two spinners Jeetan Patel and leg spinner Todd Astle. By lunch
Prasanna Jayawardene (23 n.o) and Angelo Mathews ( 27 n.o) had added 44
runs in a total of 107 for 5. Mathews 27 n.o and P.Jayawardene unbeaten
on 23.
However, it was the spinner on debut Todd Astel broke the alliance
between Mathews and Prasanna Jayawardene.
Astle striving hard for his first Test wicket finally achieved it
when Jayawardene edged one to wicket keeper Van Wyke after spending 138
minutes facing 108 deliveries with two fours for his 29.
Kulasekera joined by Mathews provided a bit of entertainment adding
46 runs for the 8th wicket in the post tea session.
With the second new ball due ,Taylor gave a bowl to his spinners
Patel and Astle , Kulasekera soon greeted Astle with two sixes in one
over off full tosses and Mathew struck Patel over long on .The second
new ball was taken in the last over before tea 168 for 7 with Kulasekera
18 n.o and Mathews 68.no and Southee operating from the press box end.
On resumption Trent Boult came on from the other end and Kulasekera
hanging his bat was caught in the slips by Williamson and it was only a
matter of time that the remaining batsmen caved in to the immense
pressure created by the pacemem Southee, Boult and Bracewell who
fashioned the memorable win for the visitors.
New Zealand 1st innings 412
Sri Lanka 1st innings 244
New Zealand 2nd innings 194-9 dec
Sri Lanka 2nd innings (overnight 47-4):
T. Paranavitana lbw b Southee 0
T. Dilshan c van Wyk b Southee 14
K. Sangakkara b Bracewell 16
M. Jayawardene c van Wyk b Bracewell 5
T. Samaraweera run out 7
A. Mathews c Guptill b Boult 84
P. Jayawardene c van Wyk b Astle 29
S. Randiv c Guptill b Boult 0
N. Kulasekara c Williamson b Boult 18
S. Eranga c Williamson b Southee 0
R. Herath not out 6
Extras (b4, lb11, w1) 16
Total (for all out; 85.5 overs) 195
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Paranavitana), 2-35 (Dilshan), 3-41 (Sangakkara), 4-46 (M. Jayawardene),
5-63 (Samaraweera), 6-119 (P. Jayawardene), 7-122 (Randiv), 8-168 (Kulasekara), 9-169 (Eranga), 10-195 (Mathews).
Bowling: Southee 20-5-58-3, Boult 17.5-6-33-3, Bracewell 13-6-13-2 (w1),
Patel 16-7-20-0, Astle 18-4-56-1, Flynn 1-1-0-0 |
