1st Test: Brendon McCullum, bowlers star as NZ beat SL Christchurch: New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the first Test completed Monday, with Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson steering the Black Caps to a four-day victory built upon a strong performance by their pacemen. Sri Lanka resumed the final day at 293-5 in its second innings and was soon reduced to nine down before Shaminda Eranga (45 not out) and Suranga Lakmal (16) shared a rapid 59-run stand for the final wicket to set New Zealand a target of 105 to win. That last-wicket stand raised Sri Lankas hopes of pulling off the rare feat of a Test victory after following on, and there was further encouragement when both New Zealand openers were removed cheaply. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews boldly chose off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal to share the new ball with Eranga. The gamble played off when Kaushal sharply turned a ball to opener Tom Latham (17), providing a catch to Mathews at slip. Eranga then removed Hamish Rutherford (10), fending a ball to gully, leaving New Zealand on a nervous 43-2. However Williamson (31 not out) and Taylor (39 not out) saw New Zealand to tea without further loss, and they quickly hunted down the remaining runs after the break, completing the run chase in 30.4 overs. Pacemen Trent Boult and Tim Southee shared 13 wickets between them for the match, and their efforts to bowl Sri Lanka out for just 138 in its first innings proved decisive. This was New Zealands fifth Test victory in 2014; the most in a calendar year in team history.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 04:44:25 +0000
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