Kusal Mendis scored a aggressive knock of 87 in 83 balls while skipper Dimuth Karunaratne played a good supporting role to complete 50 in 87 balls as Sri Lanka scored 305 for 6 wickets at end of the first day of the first test match against New Zealand which started at Christchurch yesterday.
The day belonged to Sri Lanka batters while in the second session New Zealand pacemen came back to get two quick wickets of set batters Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne within two overs made some pressure for Sri Lanka team.
Earlier New Zealand skipper Tim Southee won the toss and elected to field first on a green pitch under overcast conditions while Sri Lanka openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando failed to lay a good platform. Fernando who struck two fours tried to attempt a glance off the bowling of Tim Southee and wicket keeper Tom Blundell took good catch to dismiss Fernando who scored 13 in 31 balls.
Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis repaired the innings while Mendis played in an aggressive mood to increase the total and he struck 15 fours before lunch.
Sri Lanka were 120 for 1 wicket in a healthy position at lunch while Mendis on 73 well supported by Karunaratne who was 33 not out.
However after lunch Mendis unfortunately offered no stroke off Southee and Umpire Michael Gough given LBW and it was confirmed by third umpire Richard Illingworth to dismiss inform batter who scored 87 in 83 balls struck 16 fours and Mendis and Karunaratne added valuable 137 rune second wicket stand.
As soon as Mendis departure Karunaratne who scored his 32nd fifty departed when he gave a catch to slip Tom Latham off Matt Henry. With his half century Dimuth became the highest Test run scorer (5980runs) as a Sri Lankan opener. Karunaratne who started slowly and making slow and steady innings hitting 7 fours ended with superb bowling of Tim Southee who was able to get important breakthrough yesterday.
Two experienced batters Angelo Matthews and Dinesh Chandimal took full responsibility after the departure of Karunaratne. Chandimal who was the most successful batter during last two Test series at home struck two back to back boundaries in an over from paceman Blair Tickner set for long innings while Matthews who played his 101 test was in good form to build up innings. At tea Sri Lanka were in a commanding position with 209 for 3 wickets.
After the tea break, the game was interrupted by rain but it did not last long and Matthews and Chandimal resumed their innings.
When the score reached 233 Chandimal scoring 39 in 64 balls with 6 fours went for a drive but final result was second slip Tom Latham taking a catch and once again Tim Southee made a break through to end the 82 run fourth wicket stand between Matthews and Chandimal.
Matthews who scored 47 with 6 fours and a six to complete his 7000 test runs departed soon after the very next ball whenDaryl Mitchell took a low catch at first slip off Henry. All rounder Dhananjaya de Silva joined wicket keeper Niroshan Dickwella to repair the innings but Dickwella scoring 7 in 13 balls tried to paddle sweep over off spinner Michael Bracewell was LBW and back in the pavilion.
When bad light stopped play with 15 overs to go Dhananjaya de Silva was on 39 in 52 balls with 4 fours and a six while paceman Kasun Rajitha had a good supporting role with unbeaten 16 in 22 balls with 3 fours to pass the 300 run mark.
Skipper Tim Southee was the most successful bowler of the day taking 3 for 44 while Matt Henry 2 for 65 and solitary wicket was taken by off spinner Michael Bracewell in his three over spell.
New Zealand uses four paceman Tim Southee, Matt Henry,Blair Tickner and Neil Wagner for this game while Sri Lanka came to the game with three paceman Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara together with only leg spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.
The second day will commence today at 3.30 am Sri Lanka time.