New Zealand v Sri Lanka 1st Test Day 3: New Zealand fightback continues as Sri Lanka slump to 83/3 in 2nd innings

A stubborn century from Daryl Mitchell, a blazing 72 from Matt Henry and three wickets to Blair Tickner swung the momentum New Zealand's way in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Match Summary

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand

New Zealand 373/10 (107.3 ov)

Sri Lanka 355/10 (92.4 ov) & *83/3 (38 ov)

Stumps : Day 3 Sri Lanka lead by 65 runs

SCORECARD

New Zealand assert control as Sri Lanka lose their top three.

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— ICC (@ICC) March 11, 2023

Match Day Analysis

Sri Lanka had claimed the initiative on the first two days of the Christchurch Test but were 83 for three in their second innings at stumps on day three, a lead of 65 runs.

Angelo Mathews was not out 20, with Prabath Jayasuriya also at the crease on two.

New Zealand had recovered from 151 for five to be all out for 373, an 18-run lead, after a dogged 102 from Mitchell. Henry's swashbuckling performance included 58 runs from boundaries.

Tickner claimed the wickets of captain Dimuth Karunaratne for 17, Oshada Fernando for 28 and Kusal Mendis for 14 in the 38 overs before stumps to finish with three wickets for 28 runs off 10 overs. 

Sri Lanka, who need to sweep the two-Test series to keep their hopes of making the World Test Championship final alive, had ripped through the New Zealand top order. 

But Mitchell, who has so often been New Zealand's saviour in his 17-Test career, refused to give in as he toiled through 193 deliveries for his eighth century.  

The 31-year-old right-hander, son of former All Blacks player and coach John Mitchell, lifted his average to a remarkable 58 from 25 innings.  

He put on 54 for the sixth wicket with Michael Bracewell, a further 47 with Tim Southee and 55 with Henry.  

Mitchell leapt in the air when he reached his century, waved his bat and received a hug from Henry to celebrate. He added only two more runs before was caught behind off Lahiru Kumara and New Zealand were 291-8.  

Henry then exploded with his personal-best 72, which included 10 fours and three sixes. 

He belted spinner Dhananjaya de Silva out of the attack by taking 17 runs in just one over. 

Worse was to come for Sri Lanka when de Silva's replacement Kasun Rajitha conceded 24 to Henry in his first over. 

This was on a third-day wicket that continued to offer assistance to the bowlers, with Rajitha and Asitha Fernando both getting movement early in the day. 

Leading up to the drinks break, Bracewell, who had seemed the more settled of the New Zealand overnight pair, was undone by the introduction of left-arm spinner Jayasuriya.  

Bracewell had a life when an appeal for lbw was turned down, with reviews showing height was an issue, but with the next delivery Jayasuriya found an edge and Bracewell was caught behind for 25.

Southee brought up New Zealand's 200, belting Jayasuriya over the mid-wicket fence, and continued to swing until the third over with the new ball when he was out to a diving catch by Kumara at square leg.  

The New Zealand captain had smashed back-to-back fours off Rajitha but his attempt at a third fell short and he was out for 25 off 20 deliveries.

For Sri Lanka, Fernando returned the best figures of four for 85 while Kumara took three for 76.

Of concern for New Zealand was the fitness of Neil Wagner, who left the field in the final session for treatment to a leg injury.

 Match Stats

Sri Lanka 1^st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Oshada Fernando - 6.5 ov), 2-151 (Kusal Mendis - 32.5 ov), 3-151 (Dimuth Karunaratne - 33.4 ov), 4-233 (Dinesh Chandimal - 57.1 ov), 5-260 (Angelo Mathews - 63.5 ov), 6-268 (Niroshan Dickwella - 67.4 ov), 7-316 (Dhananjaya de Silva - 76.2 ov), 8-331 (Kasun Rajitha - 81.4 ov), 9-336 (Prabath Jayasuriya - 87.6 ov), 10-355 (Asitha Fernando - 92.4 ov)

New Zealand 1^st innings Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Devon Conway - 28.4 ov), 2-70 (Kane Williamson - 31.6 ov), 3-76 (Henry Nicholls - 35.1 ov), 4-134 (Tom Latham - 50.1 ov), 5-151 (Tom Blundell - 58.2 ov), 6-188 (Michael Bracewell - 75.3 ov), 7-235 (Tim Southee - 82.6 ov), 8-291 (Daryl Mitchell - 97.4 ov), 9-360 (Matt Henry - 105.5 ov), 10-373 (Neil Wagner - 107.3 ov)

Sri Lanka 2^nd  Innings Fall of wickets:1-28 (Dimuth Karunaratne - 11.4 ov), 2-47 (Oshada Fernando - 17.6 ov), 3-81 (Kusal Mendis - 33.4 ov)   

   

Playing XIs

New Zealand: Tom Blundell(WK), Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Southee(C), Michael Bracewell, Neil Wagner, Blair Tickner, Matt Henry

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella(WK), Dimuth Karunaratne(C), Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kasun Rajitha,Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya

Match Details:

Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 22:00

Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch, Christchurch

Toss: New Zealand elected to bowl