Latham and Williamson Shine as New Zealand Dominates Sri Lanka in 1st Test
Latham and Williamson forged a crucial 73-run partnership for the second wicket as New Zealand took control of the match on Day 2 of the 1st Test against Sri Lanka, finishing the day at 255 for 4, just 50 runs short of Sri Lanka’s first-innings total of 305.
Tom Latham (score of 70) and Kane Williamson (55), who both formed important partnerships to widen New Zealand’s lead, were the main contributors.
Key Performances and Match Scorecard
New Zealand 255 for 4 (Latham 70, Williamson 55, Dhananjaya 2-31) trail Sri Lanka 305 (Kamindu 114, Kusal 50, O’Rourke 5-55) by 50 runs.
Match Analysis
Tom Latham and Kane Williamson played airy fifties, while Rachin Ravindra made an assertive appearance. There were more names on that list by the time an extended final session concluded 15 minutes early because of poor light, as Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell had put up an undefeated partnership of 59 off 105. On a day that belonged almost entirely to the visitors, theirs was the fourth fifty-plus stand of the innings.
All of this occurred in spite of a morning play session that was limited to just fifteen minutes due to rain. However, that was all it needed for New Zealand to secure the final three wickets against Sri Lanka.
The greatest moments of the day for Sri Lanka were just that—moments—as their bowlers were unable to muster any sustained pressure. The strong breeze throughout the stadium and the aggressive footwork and diversity of sweeps by the New Zealand batsmen prevented any of the four hosts’ spinners from finding regular lines and lengths, even if the surface offered turn.
Additionally, the hosts were unable to capitalize on any of the wickets that fell, as every new batsman found ease right away. The only glimpse of Sri Lankan supremacy came from Dhananjaya de Silva, who dismissed Williamson and Ravindra in the course of two overs. However, Mitchell and Blundell quickly put an end to that optimism.
The remaining figures of the spinners tell a tale. During his 31 overs, Prabath Jayasuriya amassed figures of 99 for 1, undoubtedly his lowest in Galle so far. Meanwhile, Ramesh Mendis’ 17 overs yielded 69 and one scalp. The single over that Kamindu Mendis was utilized for lasted eight overs.
Williamson and Latham turned out to be Sri Lanka’s torturers earlier in the day. During his 111-ball 70, Latham, in particular, set the example with his footwork and, more importantly, his frequent use of the sweep and reverse sweep.
Latham was more than compensating on the other end, even though Devon Conway never really looked near to his flowing best, laboring his way to 17 off 59 deliveries. This guaranteed a strong opening stand of 63, which was ended by Conway missing a ball from Ramesh Mendis that straightened after pitching, both against the flow of play and after review.
The wicket did not re-engage Sri Lanka in the game; on the contrary, Williamson’s rapid ascent to the wicket mirrored Latham’s immediacy. The former captain scored two boundaries and a six in his first 14 deliveries, and although he would never be able to sustain that pace of scoring, the Sri Lankan spinners’ errant lines combined with Latham’s and Williamson’s skillful manipulation meant that dot balls were rarely strung together.
It was more due to the batter’s mistake than the bowlers’ skill that Sri Lanka broke the 73-run partnership, which was reached in just 120 balls, as Latham’s most efficient weapon, the sweep, proved to be his downfall when he top-edged to backward square leg off Jayasuriya at tea-time.
In the last session, Ravindra raised the stakes even further with a 48-ball 39, so there was no reprieve for Sri Lanka. Any length inaccuracy was punished squarely of the wicket on either side because to his skillful use of the crease’s depth.
It took just 84 deliveries for the Williamson-Ravindra stand of 51, and it was difficult to see where a breakthrough would have occurred if wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis hadn’t leaped forward across the stumps to cling on to a leading edge of Williamson.
Shortly after, Ravindra fell himself, striking his bat in disgust as he made his way back to the dressing room and left an arm ball that clattered into his off stump. However, Sri Lanka’s happiness was short-lived as Mitchell and Blundell handled all that was thrown at them, including a phase of Asitha Fernando’s short-ball assaults, securely.
William O’Rourke was outstanding again during the morning session, which was severely impacted by rain. He took two more wickets to his overnight total, finishing with figures of 5 for 55, as Sri Lanka was bowled out after scoring just three runs more than they had the previous night.
