New Zealand v Sri Lanka 1st Test, Day 1 Review: Home side hammers 409 on an eventful day

Martin Guptill made his third Test hundred, his first in 40 innings since November 2011, and then Brendon McCullum raced to a cracking half-century as the home side dominated the first day that also witnessed the fall of 8 wickets. The two batsmen were in desperate need of runs having struggled throughout New Zealand’s recent tour to Australia.

Kane Williamson made an elegant 88 against the wayward bowling of Sri Lanka. New Zealand’s run rate above 4 meant they were in a commanding position at the end of day’s play however the visitors did take six wickets after tea to minimize the damage.

Angelo Mathews chose to bowl on a sunny morning at Dunedin’s University Oval. The Lankan seamers had the first use of any assistance in the pitch, however, pitched it too full and after a maiden over to begin from Suranga Lakmal, there was a flurry of shots from both the openers. New Zealand smashed 51 in the first hour before Tom Latham was caught and bowled on the second attempt by Lakmal.

Guptill added 173 runs for the second wicket with Williamson, to build on his half-century opening stand with Tom Latham, and then added 89 for the fourth wicket with McCullum who hammered 75 off 57 balls.

Williamson left balls that were outside off and was solid in defence however also dealt in boundaries whenever given a chance to do so. Guptill was strong all-round the wicket and kept playing positively. New Zealand went to lunch on 114 for 1 in 27 overs and scored 61 in the first hour after lunch. Mathews brought on Lakmal and Pradeep, but both were loose.

The pitch had a tinge of green on it but offered no lateral movement. When Mathews turned to spin, Guptill stepped out and lofted Rangana Herath to the long-on boundary to not let him settle, and later slapped two short and wide offerings fiercely through cover. The only uncertain moments he faced was when he survived two lbw appeals in the 39th over bowled by Chameera. The second not-out decision would have been overturned had Mathews chosen to use the DRS. Guptill put this behind him and soon celebrated his hundred off 147 balls.

Williamson fell in the last over before tea, edging a short and wide ball from Pradeep to slip. Ross Taylor was soon out lbw to Pradeep after tea, but McCullum looked in murderous mood from the outset and didn’t let the bowler settle. He hit all sorts of shots to bring up his half-century off 39 balls. He was out after top-edging a slog off the spinner Siriwardana, and his dismissal was followed by a cluster of wickets. Chameera removed Mitchell Santner and BJ Watling during a hostile spell to give the visitors some respite.

Guptill was out edging a delivery from Mathews that seamed away. Doug Bracewell, who had batted impressively in the day-night Test in Adelaide, counterattacked once again. His unbeaten 32 off 39 balls took New Zealand past 400, a total that will please the home side. Sri Lanka will need a big batting effort to compete in this match.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand 1st innings– 409/8 in 90 overs (M Guptill 156; S Lakmal 2/69)