WELLINGTON: Fifteen wickets fell in a bowlers’ blitz yesterday as Sri Lanka ended the first day of the second Test in Wellington at 78-5 in reply to New Zealand’s first innings 221.
Sri Lanka’s response in their attempt to level the series after an eight wicket drubbing in the first Test has been highlighted by Kumar Sangakkara becoming just the fifth player in cricket history to post 12,000 career runs.
New Zealand’s innings was rocked by batting hero Brendon McCullum’s second-ball duck.
At stumps Sangakkara was 33 not out while recalled New Zealand paceman Doug Bracewell had three for 23.
With conditions ripe for bowlers, Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews had no hesitation in making New Zealand bat first on a green strip with overcast skies and a blustery wind.
The game changed as they pitched the ball up more in the middle session when five New Zealand wickets fell, while the last three New Zealand wickets and five top Sri Lankans were removed after tea.
First Test centurion Dimuth Karunaratne (16) was first to go for Sri Lanka when he was lured into chasing a ball that moved off the seam and edged a comfortable catch to Jimmy Neesham in the slips. Kaushal Silva, in a cautious start, faced 30 deliveries before he played on Doug Bracewell for five.
Bracewell, recalled to the side in place of Neil Wagner, followed with the dismissal of Lahiru Thirimanne who lobbed a simple catch to Brendon McCullum at mid off without scoring. Mathews, Sri Lanka’s rock with two half centuries in Christchurch, could only manage 15 before he was squared up by Tim Southee.
As the wickets fell at one end Sangakkara proved an unshakeable force at the other as he easily knocked off the five runs he required to reach 12,000 and cruised through another 28 runs before stumps.
The prolific 37-year-old left-hander has an impressive average of more than 58.00, including 37 centuries in 130 Tests. His highest score was 319 against Bangladesh.
New Zealand made a bright start to the day, reaching 141-2 before the Sri Lankan bowlers found how best to utilise the conditions and the last eight wickets fell for 80. McCullum’s return to the scene of his greatest triumph, a New Zealand record 302 knock against India last February, only lasted two deliveries.
He had been feted on his return to Wellington and was presented with the keys to the city during a lunch-break ceremony.
But this time there was to be no marathon session in the middle, nor a replay of the rollicking 195 he blasted in a shade over two hours in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Christchurch.
He received a heroes welcome as he strode to the middle eight overs after lunch, played at two deliveries and returned to the shed after chopping a fuller ball from Suranga Lakmal onto the stumps.
Kane Williamson, with 69 and Ross Taylor who made 35 propped up the New Zealand innings with a 79 run stand for the third wicket.AFP
WELLINGTON:Kumar Sangakkara’s wicket early on the second day of the second Test is the one that New Zealand will be seeking the most though they may focus on running through their tail, according to pace bowler Doug Bracewell.
The 37-year-old Sangakkara was 33 not out as Sri Lanka were left teetering on 78 for five in reply to New Zealand’s 221 as 15 wickets fell on the green Basin Reserve wicket on the first day yesterday.
Sangakkara became the fastest man to 12,000 Test runs when he reached five yesterday, but it was the fact that he had been patient before he began to play his shots that was looming as the danger for the hosts.
“He is obviously a very good player and we will have to be smart with our plans,” Bracewell told reporters after he took three wickets in Sri Lanka’s innings, before adding that the hosts may look to target his batting partners instead with Dinesh Chandimal the last remaining recognised batsman.
“We will have a yarn in the morning and work out some plans and look to attack the new players coming in. At the same time we’re still looking to get him early tomorrow.”
Sangakkara reached the 12,000-run milestone with a simple tuck off his legs for two runs and while he was rewarded with a sustained standing ovation from the crowd of almost 5,000 he did not acknowledge the achievement at all.
Instead, he simply got back to batting and tried to ensure that his side got back into the match after they had skittled New Zealand for such a low score on the first day.
While he will need to re-establish himself again today the fact he reached 33 by the close yesterday indicated he had adjusted to the pitch in much the same way Kane Williamson (69) and Ross Taylor (35) did in New Zealand’s innings.
The pair had taken New Zealand from 93 for two at lunch to 141 in less than 40 minutes after the break before Taylor’s dismissal, indicating that once a batsmen was in, the runs were there to be scored.
“The bottom end is a little bit more inconsistent with some going through and some staying a bit lower (but)... the guys showed that once they gave themselves a chance and were pretty patient then the scoring opportunities came,” Bracewell said.
“It’s the sort of wicket where you can lose wickets in clumps but when the guys apply themselves and get going then it is a nice wicket to bat on.”REUTERS
