New Zealand 340 (Latham 70, Mitchell 57, Jayasuriya 4-136) lead Sri Lanka 305 by 35 runs
It’s an outcome Sri Lanka would have snapped up if it were offered to them at the start of the day, one which New Zealand had begun 50 runs behind with six wickets in hand. But by the innings’ close, you wouldn’t have begrudged them a feeling of mild disappointment at having given the visitors so many.
New Zealand, by contrast, would be grateful for each of those 35 runs, having lost five wickets for 50 runs inside the first hour of play.
Tom Blundell was the first to go, as replays confirmed a glove through to first slip off an attempted reverse sweep. That came in just the fourth over of a morning in which Sri Lanka had started brightly, sticking to consistent lines and lengths and forcing the New Zealand batters to make things happen.
For the most part New Zealand were up to the task, particularly Daryl Mitchell, who seemed in imperious form as highlighted by a disdainful loft down the ground off Lahiru Kumara. His footwork was also positive, very much in line with the approach New Zealand had utilised so such devastating effect on day two.
But the lifeline Sri Lanka were seeking would arrive courtesy an ill-advised single to cover. Glenn Phillips called for the single, but Mitchell was marginally slow off the mark, and that was all it took to find him inches short at the striker’s end. With Mitchell at the crease, Sri Lanka were staring at a deficit potentially beyond 100, but suddenly they scented blood.
With a second new ball in tow, Mitchell Santner didn’t last much longer, edging behind one that skid through second ball. Tim Southee wouldn’t fare much better, going back to a good length ball and having his off stump pegged back. An arm-ball would trap Ajaz Patel leg before, and just like that New Zealand were nine down with the scores level.
When Phillips was given out leg before just one ball later, Sri Lanka thought they had completely turned the game on its head but a review showed the ball to be missing leg stump. Phillips took this lifeline and ran with it, as over the next five and a bit overs he would shield strike and plunder 35 runs, inclusive of some monster hits down the ground off Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka were relegated to waiting for the last two deliveries of each over to bowl to Will O’Rourke, and it was indeed one of those deliveries that would do the trick as the fast bowler would end up being the last man to fall, beaten on the outside edge and finding his off stump rocked.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo