Rain, epic stand save Sri Lanka in New Zealand

Kusal Mendis was unbeaten on 141 and Angelo Mathews on 120 at stumps after a 274-run stand that, along with the weather, allowed Sri Lanka to salvage a draw.

Published : Dec 19, 2018 09:39 IST , Wellington

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews (left) and Kusal Mendis responded with a masterclass of their own scoring an unbeaten 120 and 141 respectively forging a 274-run stand that, along with the weather, allowed Sri Lanka to salvage a draw.
Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews (left) and Kusal Mendis responded with a masterclass of their own scoring an unbeaten 120 and 141 respectively forging a 274-run stand that, along with the weather, allowed Sri Lanka to salvage a draw.
lightbox-info

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews (left) and Kusal Mendis responded with a masterclass of their own scoring an unbeaten 120 and 141 respectively forging a 274-run stand that, along with the weather, allowed Sri Lanka to salvage a draw.

Sri Lanka battled to a rain-affected draw in the first Test against New Zealand on Wednesday after the Black Caps were unable to break an epic stand by Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews.

Sri Lanka was 287 for three in its second innings — still nine runs away from an innings defeat — when the umpires called time with only 13 overs bowled on the final day.

Mendis was unbeaten on 141 and Mathews on 120 at stumps after a 274-run stand that, along with the weather, allowed Sri Lanka to salvage a draw.

New Zealand will view the draw as a missed opportunity after it took control of the Test with a mammoth 578 in the first innings, anchored by Tom Latham's unbeaten 264.

The epic effort by Tom Latham overhauled former England captain Alastair Cook's 244 as the highest score by an opener carrying their bat in Test history.

The emphatic performance should have given the New Zealand bowlers two full days to attack a Sri Lanka line-up that showed little fight in the first innings, but Mathews and Mendis responded with a masterclass of their own.

The pair came together late on day three with Sri Lanka reeling at 13/3 in its second dig, trailing New Zealand's first inning total by 296.

They batted through the whole of day four , fending off a barrage of bouncers from the New Zealanders in a stubborn rearguard action.

It was the only time in New Zealand that a full day's play has been completed without a Test wicket falling, and the first time anywhere since South Africa achieved the feat against Bangladesh in Chittagong in 2008.

The partnership was also a Sri Lankan record against the Black Caps.

The draw snaps a four-Test losing streak against the Black Caps on New Zealand soil.

It will give the world's sixth-ranked team some confidence after it arrived in New Zealand smarting from a 3-0 Test series whitewash against England last month.

It has also had to contend with disarray in its coaching and selection ranks.

The fourth-ranked Black Caps entered the two-match contest buoyed by its first away Test series win over Pakistan in 49 years.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment