Latham, Williamson Lead Strong New Zealand Reply

BY M. SHAMIL AMIT REPORTING FROM GALLE

New Zealand ended day two in a strong position after rain hampered proceedings in the morning session on day two of the first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Galle Stadium yesterday. New Zealand in reply to Sri Lanka’s score of 305, spearheaded by Tom Latham and Kane Williamson with support from Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, ended the day in a strong 255 for four. Earlier, Sri Lanka resuming from their overnight score of 302 for seven lasted just seven balls. Right-arm paceman William O’Rourke cleaned off the tail after left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel bagged the wicket of Prabath Jayasuriya. O’ Rourke followed with the wickets of Ramesh Mendis and Asitha Fernando and ended with a five-wicket haul. New Zealand coming into bat were able to face only one over as a heavy shower put a stoppage to proceedings, which lasted for over 45 minutes. The post lunch session saw New Zealand dominating with openers Latham and Devon Conway finding no threat in Sri Lanka’s spin bowling. The pair posted 50 runs on the board with the minimum of fuss before they were separated 13 runs later with Ramesh Mendis making the breakthrough with the wicket of Conway.

Latham joined Williamson and they continued to torment the Sri Lanka bowlers as Latham went on to reach his half century off 69 balls with four boundaries. But Jayasuriya made the breakthrough shortly before the tea break as he tempted Latham, who went for a sweep, but succeeded in only offering an easy catch to sub Sadeera Samarawickrama, having made 70 with six boundaries. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva dealt a double blow, with the wicket of Williamson, who made 55 with four boundaries and a six and Ravindra, who hit 39 as New Zealand from a healthy position of 187 for two slid to 196 for four. The fifth wicket pair of Daryl Mitchell, who remained unbeaten on 41 and Tom Blundell, stuck on to prevent any hiccups as the pair shared an unbroken 59 runs.