There was much disappointment for Sri Lanka’s players as the entire day two’s play of their warm-up game against New Zealand Board XI at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln was called off due to rain yesterday. This was Sri Lanka’s only warm-up game ahead of the two match Test series against New Zealand that gets underway on Thursday in Christchurch.
Sri Lanka had declared on 274 for four after the top and middle order batters had spent some useful time in the middle and New Zealand Board XI were 141 for one at stumps on day one. Not a single ball was bowled yesterday due to heavy rain and play was called off early. Kusal Mendis smashed a quick-fire 95 that came off 87 balls with 16 fours and two sixes. Mendis shared a 162 runs stand with Oshada Fernando, who opened batting and made 78. All Sri Lanka’s batters spent useful time in the middle before the innings was declared.
Angelo Mathews batted at number four and made 38 off 67 balls while Dinesh Chandimal scored 35 off 45 balls. Dhananjaya de Silva and Niroshan Dickwella didn’t get a chance to bat.
Sri Lanka’s top seven is pretty much settled and they are unlikely to make any changes to the batting unit and it’s the bowling attack they need to figure out. Quicks Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara bowled some decent spells and Kumara was the only wicket taker.
Sri Lanka are likely to play only three quicks in the Test series but some feel that they are better off with all four quicks in with Dhananjaya de Silva being the lone spinner. The selectors are unlikely to follow that bold step.
The Test series is viral for Sri Lanka as a 2-0 series win will give them a slot in the World Test Championship final later this year at The Oval during the English summer. But it’s quite a tough task as in the history Sri Lanka have been to New Zealand on ten Test tours and have just won two Tests. Unlike in white ball cricket, the Test team has been far more consistent and the ability of fast bowlers to run through sides has been a notable feature.
The teams will move to north island for the second Test with Basin Reserve in Wellington hosting the game. It was at this venue Sri Lanka won the 2006 Test with Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva scoring hundreds. Muttiah Muralitharan claimed a match bag of ten wickets. It was also at the Basin Reserve Aravinda de Silva produced his career best 267 during the 1991 tour. In the same game Martin Crowe was dismissed for 299.