By Srian Obeyesekere

New Zealand made a spirited reply of 255 for 4 wickets trailing Sri Lanka by 55 runs on the second day of the first test match at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday
New Zealand’s bowlers claimed the last three Lankan wickets for the addition of just three runs in bowling out the hosts for 305 with pacer William O’Rourke returning splendid figures of 5 for 55 from 18.5 overs.

The usually spin friendly Galle surface that has seen Sri Lanka revel in winning ways since the days of spin king Muttiah Muralidaran to Rangana Herath and contemporary leggy Prabath Jayasuriya, was a far cry from what it has been in the past with Jayasuriya managing just the one wicket that of Latham caught by substitute fielder Samarawickrama off Jayasuriya. It was Sri Lanka’s second success on a toiling day as New Zealand were 136 for 2 by then after 38.1 overs. The first break came after 18.4 overs after the Kiwi openers had posted 68 when Devon Conway’s stalling innings that fetched just 7 consuming 59 minutes was ended by Ramesh Mendis who trapped him leg before wicket.

Latham’s second wicket partnership with Williamson was worth 68 runs. The hosts had the prize wicket of Williamson taken by Kusal Mendis off skipper Dhananjaya de Silva who went on to clean bowl Rachin Ravindra 9 runs later with New Zealand on 4 for 196.

But Daryl Mitchell stalled the Lankans with a quick fire 41 off 60 laced with 5 boundaries and a six to an unfinished fifth wicket bonding of 69 with Tom Blundell who resisted 52 deliveries for a stonewalling 8.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s 2 for 31 was the best of the Lankan bowlers with Jayasuriya conceding 99 runs for his solitary wicket and Mendis 1 for 69.