SL NZ T1 Day 2: Samaraweera Stretches SL, NZ in Scrape

Sreelata YellamrazuAug 19 2009

Sri Lanka progressed head on, but there was some bright moments for New Zealand, despite the rain.

vettori happy

Once the rain delay gave way to an hour before lunch, Iain O'Brien made quick work of Mahela Jayawardene but Thilan Samaraweera kept his date with a century and a big one at that.

Samaraweera took his time getting off the blocks, but once he did, he slammed his way 159 runs. It needed the wherewithal of the New Zealand line up to plug back the Sri Lankans to 452, Daniel Vettori playing his part with four wickets as Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for forty-four runs.

samaraweera1

Tim McIntosh and Martin Guptill saw New Zealand to forty-five before the latter played one back to his stumps for twenty-four. Daniel Flynn was foxed by Ajantha Mendis as the gap between his bat and pad saw the ball turn and disturb the bails.

McIntosh's thirty-six runs were the mainstay of the day as nightwatchman Jeetan Patel held up an end briefly for New Zealand to finish the day on eighty-seven for two, the New Zealand batsmen having the onerous task of turning it on now.

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