By Editor in Chief –
New Zealand batted their way to 255 for the loss of 4 wickets having dismissed Sri Lanka for 305 trail by 50 at stumps on day two of the first test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The visitors got off to a heady start with Tom Latham 70 off 108; balls (6×4) and Devon Conway a dour 7 off 59 adding 68 for the first wicket.
Having wrapped up the Lankan innings for 305 claiming the last three wickets for 3 runs, the visitors cruised untroubled by the Lankan attack with Kane Williamson 55 off 104 balls and Rachin Ravindra 55 off a similar number of deliveries, cementing an equitable cornerstone to New Zealand’s close of play 255 for 4.
Sri Lanka:s only successful bowler was skipper Dhananjaya de Silva who had figures of 2 for 31 having accounted for the key wickets of Williamson and Ravindra on a traditionally spin friendly haven for the Lankans that did not produce the same results this time around. Test cricket had returned to Galle after a year long break as the visitors strolled to stumps with Daryl Mitchell unbeaten on a cameo 41 off 60 decorated by 5 boundaries and one over the top. With him was Tom Blundell on a obdurate 8 consuming 52 balls.