The most promising thing for New Zealand was that most of their batsmen got good starts. The despair bit set in when they could not convert to make it count for more.
tim mcintosh
With rain playing havoc again in the morning, the delayed start gave New Zealand time to gather their strategy which would have basically rallied around eating into as much time as possible to ensure that they could bail themselves out.
Tim McIntosh did the good job the previous day for New Zealand to get to eight-seven for two overnight and he carried on his part for sixty-nine runs that held up one end of the crease.
ross taylor2
However, the other line continued to worry New Zealand. After the departure of Jeetan Patel, the nightwatchman, Ross Taylor revealed an array of shots as did the renewed Jesse Ryder. Taylor's wicket then was particularly disappointing because he promised much on thirty-five before Thilan Thushara got the better of him. Thushara struck once more before tea to pick up the dangerous Brendon McCullum.
But Ryder continued the good work despite McIntosh finally caving in to Muttiah Muralitharan but after some doubt over the trajectory. And just when a partnership appeared to be building between Ryder and New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, the last final force in the batting, Ryder was sent back for forty-two for Nuwan Kulasekara at a rather critical juncture as Sri Lanka had dug into the New Zealand line up in the late afternoon to be rewarded with four wickets.
daniel vettori11
Iain O'Brien strode to the crease with the skipper batting on thirty-three and when the umpires offered light with New Zealand's score on 281 for eight, the New Zealand were not complaining.
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