Muralitharan’s three wicket haul ensured that Sri Lanka was still on top of the first test match against New Zealand. But, with rain threatening to reduce the playing time in the test match, it will take the hosts to get rid of the Kiwis quickly to hold any chance of winning the game.
New Zealand resumed from their overnight score of 87/2, after Sri Lanka had scored 452 in their first innings. Night-watchman Jeetan Patel defied the Lankan bowlers for more than one hour on the third day before Murali finally broke through with his wicket. Ross Taylor then joined Tim McIntosh, who had earlier displayed great concentration in handling the Lankan spinners through the course of the previous innings and he carried on manfully to lunch; the Kiwis ending another rain curtailed session at 137/3.
Taylor thwarted any chances of the spinners running through the Kiwi batting but just when he looked good to carry his warm-up form into the test math as well, Thilan Thushara induced him into getting an edge through to the first slip.180/4 soon became 188/5 as McIntosh was declared out lbw to Murali, but there was a slight doubt whether the ball had him in line with the stumps. What there was no doubt about was the next wicket of Brendon McCullum who was bowled off an inside edge; New Zealand at 195/6.
Jacob Oram survived 26 balls for his his 28-run stand with Jesse Ryder before becoming Murali’s third victim, whereas Jesse Ryder was batting well on 42 before being bowled by Nuwan Kulasekera off a loose defensive prod.
Daniel Vettori survived a strong lbw appeal in what turned out to be the last over of the day to end unbeaten on 33. New Zealand was 281/8 by close, still 171 runs behind and with two days remaining. Vettori will need to bat out as much of tomorrow’s first session as possible and expect another 90 overs of batting on the last day to save the game.