A cussed century from Daryl Mitchell, a blazing 72 from Matt Henry and three wickets to Blair Tickner swung the momentum New Zealand’s approach within the first Test towards Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Sri Lanka had claimed the initiative on the primary two days of the Christchurch Test however was 83 for 3 in its second innings at stumps on day three, a lead of 65 runs.
Angelo Mathews was not out 20, with Prabath Jayasuriya on the crease on two.
New Zealand had recovered from 151 for 5 to be all out for 373, an 18-run lead, after a dogged 102 from Mitchell. Henry’s swashbuckling efficiency included 58 runs from boundaries.
Tickner claimed the wickets of captain Dimuth Karunaratne for 17, Oshada Fernando for 28 and Kusal Mendis for 14 within the 38 overs earlier than stumps to complete with three wickets for 28 runs off 10 overs.
Sri Lanka, which wants to brush the two-Test collection to maintain its hopes of creating the World Test Championship last alive, had ripped by the New Zealand prime order.
But Mitchell, who has usually been New Zealand’s saviour in his 17-Test profession, refused to offer in as he toiled by 193 deliveries for his eighth century.
The 31-year-old right-hander, son of former All Blacks participant and coach John Mitchell, lifted his common to a outstanding 58 from 25 innings.
He placed on 54 for the sixth wicket with Michael Bracewell, an extra 47 with Tim Southee and 55 with Henry.
Mitchell leapt within the air when he reached his century, waved his bat and acquired a hug from Henry to have fun. He added solely two extra runs earlier than was caught behind off Lahiru Kumara, and New Zealand was 291-8.
Henry then exploded along with his personal-best 72, which included 10 fours and three sixes.
He belted spinner Dhananjaya de Silva out of the assault by taking 17 runs in only one over.
Worse was to return for Sri Lanka when de Silva’s substitute Kasun Rajitha conceded 24 to Henry in his first over.
This was on a third-day wicket that continued to supply help to the bowlers, with Rajitha and Asitha Fernando getting motion early within the day.
Leading as much as the drinks break, Bracewell, who had appeared the extra settled of the New Zealand in a single day pair, was undone by the introduction of left-arm spinner Jayasuriya.
Bracewell had a life when an enchantment for lbw was turned down, with opinions displaying peak was a difficulty, however with the following supply, Jayasuriya discovered an edge, and Bracewell was caught behind for 25.
Southee introduced up New Zealand’s 200, belting Jayasuriya over the mid-wicket fence, and continued to swing till the third over with the brand new ball when he was out to a diving catch by Kumara at sq. leg.
The New Zealand captain had smashed back-to-back fours off Rajitha, however his try at a 3rd fell brief, and he was out for 25 off 20 deliveries.
For Sri Lanka, Fernando returned the very best figures of 4 for 85, whereas Kumara took three for 76.
Of concern for New Zealand was the health of Neil Wagner, who left the sector within the last session for remedy to a leg harm.
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
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