Glenn Phillips attack give New Zealand slender lead at lunch after the end of the first session of Day 3 in the first test.
Glenn Phillips launched a remarkable counter-charge as another exciting chapter ended with a test of ebbs and flows.
When it was all over, New Zealand had been bowled out for 340, with a 35-run lead in the first innings. Ramesh Mendis also put up a far better performance, and Prabath Jayasuriya found his finest form again to finish with figures of 4 for 136.
If Sri Lanka had been presented with this result at the beginning of the day, they would have taken it immediately, especially as New Zealand had started the day 50 runs behind with six wickets remaining. But you wouldn’t have blamed them for feeling a little let down at the end of the innings for having given the visitors so much.
In contrast, after losing five wickets for 50 runs in the opening hour of play, New Zealand would have been thankful for each of those 35 runs.
The majority of the time, New Zealand proved capable, especially Daryl Mitchell, who gave off an air of imperiousness with a contemptuous loft down the ground off Lahiru Kumara. Positive footwork was also demonstrated by Mitchell, who used the same strategy that New Zealand had used to such devastating effect on day two.
However, the salvation Sri Lanka was looking for came through a poorly chosen single to cover. Phillips requested a single, but Mitchell was only a little bit sluggish to get off the mark in the 57th position, and that was all it took for him to be inches short of the striker. Sri Lanka was looking at a deficit that might have gone over 100 runs with Mitchell at the wicket, but all of a sudden they smelt blood.
Mitchell Santner didn’t last long with a second new ball in tow, edging behind one off Jayasuriya as the delivery skidded through the second ball. Tim Southee didn’t fare much better, as Jayasuriya again pushed back his off stump as he returned to a good-length ball. Ramesh Mendis’ arm-ball trapped Ajaz Patel leg before wicket, and suddenly New Zealand were nine down and one run short of Sri Lanka’s total.
One ball later, Phillips was out for LBW off Jayasuriya, and Sri Lanka believed they had completely altered the tide of the match. Review, however, revealed that the ball was missing its leg stump. With this reprieve, Phillips went on a rampage, taking full advantage of the situation to amass 35 runs over the next five and a half overs, including some huge ground balls from Jayasuriya.
As a result, Sri Lanka had to wait until the final two deliveries of every over to bowl to Will O’Rourke, who was ranked at number eleven. It was one of those deliveries that proved to be effective, as he was the final player to fall, getting hit on the outside edge and having his off stump rocked.