NZ Vs SL 1st Test Match Day 3: New Zealand needed to step up with the bat after they lost five quick wickets yesterday i.e March 10.
Now the first Test match at Christchurch is interestingly poised because the home side has scored more than the visitors, Sri Lanka in their 1st innings.
The lower order of the Kiwis did a decent job and they posted 373 runs which is more than Sri Lanka, who scored 355 runs in their 1st outing of this red ball match.
Yesterday, Sri Lanka was on top of the game as New Zealand had lost five wickets for just 162 runs on the board.
But on the 3rd day of the first test match, New Zealand bounced back well mainly because of Daryl Mitchell and Matt Henry. These two players of the Black Caps side saved the day for the home side.
The Kiwis were placed at 162/5 yesterday. Bracewell and Mitchell were expected to step up to control the proceedings on day 3.
However, Bracewell was out even before the team posted two hundred runs on the board. Michael was dismissed for just 25 runs by Prabath Jayasuriya.
New Zealand reached the 200-run mark as Mitchell and skipper Southee snitched a small partnership.
But that stand didn’t last long as well because the visitors, Lankan Tigers broke that mini stand when the skipper of the New Zealand team was out for 25 runs to Kasun Rajitha.
Neil Wagner also contributed decently with the bat in hand. He scored 27 runs.
But it was a brilliant knock of 102 runs from Daryl Mitchell which allowed the Kiwis to stay in the game. Then Matt Henry too contributed magnificently for the home side with valuable 72 runs that helped the hosts to take a small lead of 18 runs.
After a disappointing show from the top and the middle order, the Kiwis regain control of the first Test match because of the contributions from the lower-order batters.
Sri Lanka had a great chance to continue their dominance over New Zealand on the third day of this first test match.
The visitors did a decent job yesterday. But they couldn’t keep things under control today.
After the ton by Mitchell, the Kiwis were pumped up and dented the Lankan innings by picking up three wickets to finish the third day’s play.
Blair Tickner was good with the red cherry in the second innings when the home side, New Zealand bowled. Tickner ticked all the boxes and picked up all three wickets of the Sri Lankan Tigers.
He went wicketless in the first innings when New Zealand bowled. But in the 2nd innings, he picked up Dimuth Karunaratne for 17 runs, Oshada Fernando for 28 runs and Kusal Mendis for just 14 runs.
Sri Lanka will look to extend the current lead of 65 runs tomorrow and they will want the experienced Angelo Mathews to show the way with the bat.
Mathews is a seasoned campaigner who has the ability to take the innings forward and set a daunting target for the New Zealanders to chase in their fourth innings of this Test match.
While the Kiwis would be looking to end the innings of Sri Lanka as quickly as possible so that their batters will not have a tough ask in the final outing of the first Test match.
New Zealand will want their pace bowlers to deliver on Sunday morning tomorrow. Currently, Sri Lanka is placed at 83 runs for the loss of three wickets.
