NZ v SL, 1st Test: Sri Lankan fast bowlers put New Zealand under pressure in the opening Test of the 2 match series in New Zealand. This series is very important in terms of the final of the World Test Championship. After scoring 355 in their first innings at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Sri Lanka bowled out the Kiwis for 5 wickets in 63 overs at stumps on the second day. New Zealand’s score is 162/5.
India vs Lanka fight for WTC final
If the Sri Lankan team wins this Test and maintains its performance in the next Test as well, then Team India can be in trouble. Sri Lanka will have to clean the 2-match series 2-0 in New Zealand to reach the final of the World Championship. Sweep is required. Team India does not win the Ahmedabad Test and Sri Lanka clean sweeps New Zealand in the two-match Test series, then the Sri Lankan team will reach the WTC final instead of India.
Sri Lanka in strong position in Christchurch Test
On the first day of the Christchurch Test, Sri Lanka scored 305 runs losing 6 wickets. Kusal Mendis 87, Dimuth Karunaratne 50, Angelo Mathews 47 and Dinesh Chandimal 39 played innings. On the second day, the Lankan team could not add more runs to their score and were soon all out. For New Zealand, Tim Southee took 5 wickets and Matt Henry took 4 wickets.
After this the Lankan bowlers bowled amazingly. The Kiwi opening pair added 67 runs for the first wicket. Here Devan Conway returned to the 30 pavilion. As soon as this partnership was broken, Kane Williamson 1 and Henry Nicholls 2 also returned back to back pavilion. By stumps on the second day, the Kiwi team scored 162 runs losing 5 wickets. For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara took 2-2 wickets, Kasun Rajitha also took one wicket.
