Blackcaps take ascendency as lead stretches to 308

Sri lanka lost their two set batsmen in Dinesh Chandimal and Kithuruwan Vithanage early on day three but the lower order led by Milinda Siriwardena provided some stubborn resistance to push the total towards 300.

If the Sri Lankans thought the first couple of days of this test match were tough, weather wise, the third was overcast, cold and windy, and New Zealand’s fast bowlers used the second new ball and the conditions to great effect at the University Oval.

Sri Lanka lost Dinesh Chandimal as early as the second ball of the day when Tim Southee angled the ball in and made it cut away off the seam, leaving Chandimal squared up who managed only to edge the ball to Martin Guptill who took a decent catch diving forward at second slip.

Rangana Herath walked in at no. 8 for Sri Lanka to join Milinda Siriwardena who was taking the attack back to the Blackcaps with some clean hitting but with half an hour to go for lunch, the Blackcaps began bowling short, aiming at the ribs with catchers close and on the boundary on the leg side while Herath was the main target. Herath tried to avoid the short ball barrage but was eventually hit on the gloves by Neil Wagner and on the helmet by Southee.

The short ball tactic worked well for the Blackcaps ending a stubborn 43 run partnership when Siriwardena had a waft outside off stump at a short one by Wagner to be caught in the slips for a handy 35 while Herath also top edged a pull short to be caught at fine leg.

Dushmantha Chameera(14) and Suranga Lakmal(18*) continued the fighting spirits as both of them recorded their career best test scores before the Sri Lankans were eventually  dismissed for 294 mid way in to the post lunch session handing a healthy 137 run lead to the Kiwis.

New Zealand looked to be positive in the second innings to stretch their lead but Sri Lankan Fast bowlers pulled their socks up to keep things tighter which created a few chances but unfortunately they were not able to hold on to any of them. Martin Guptill was dropped by Kusal Mendis first at a deepish extra cover and also Suranga Lakmal of his bowling while he had a few other lucky escapes which evaded the fielders.

The pitch looked a beauty for batting and skipper Angelo Mathews turned to Rangana Herath in search of the breakthrough but Guptill decided to take the attack to Herath as he launched him for a massive six straight down the ground while also hitting him for a couple of boundaries. Tom Latham went about his work as usual rotating the strike and holding one end up firmly giving good support to Guptill.

Sri Lanka finally had some success when Herath broke through cleaning up Guptill for 46 which ended a 79 run stand for the first wicket. As much as Sri Lanka were happy to break through, it would have put a lot of doubt in the Sri Lankan batsmen’s minds, who have to bat last on this pitch, as they saw Herath’s delivery which looked to be a short ball, just dying and shooting through at ankle height to rattle the base of the middle stump.

This brought the man in form, Kane Williamson who raised to an unbeaten 48 caressing five boundaries , as he along with Tom Latham, who remained on an unbeaten 72 helped the Blackcaps end the day on 171/1, 308 runs ahead of Sri Lanka.