Twitter Reactions: Tom Latham and Kane Williamson pile on Sri Lanka's misery
Williamson missed out on a well-deserved century.
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New Zealand are expectedly dominating the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka. Tom Latham and Kane Williamson hogged the headlines on the day with some authoritative batting. The latter was literally playing on another pitch as his shots were just a delight to watch. Though the surface got flattened, it was a sheer class from Williamson with the willow as he was striking over 100 during his innings.
However, a lot of credit should go to the openers Jeet Raval and Latham who blunted the new ball and added 59 runs for the opening wicket. The former was more animated in the partnership. But Lahiru Kumara’s pace was too much for him as the left-hander failed to get to a half-century and walking back on 43. But Williamson’s arrival only worsened the things for the visitors.
The Kiwi skipper looked in sublime touch and matched his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli in class who was playing a masterclass in Perth. Kane, in no time, reached close to his century with a strike-rate of more than 100. But when on 91, lost his concentration with the part-timer Dhananjaya de Silva bowling. The rank long hop was hit straight into the hands of the fielder in the deep to miss out on a well-deserved century.
Taylor joins Latham
Meanwhile, Tom Latham played second fiddle to his captain and slowly but steadily trudged along towards his ton. Ross Taylor joined hands with him and easily got settled on a really good batting pitch. The duo added 90 runs in close to 25 overs before the end of the day as the Kiwis took a lead as well. Latham got to a superb century and is still looking good on 121 while Taylor is still batting on 50 off 86 balls with five fours.
New Zealand ended the day on 311/2 with a lead of 29 runs and are almost certain of batting the opposition out of the game on the third day. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have no option but to toil hard on a tough pitch and hope that the batsmen make mistakes.
Earlier in the day, Tim Southee snaffled the last wicket of the tourists to end Sri Lanka’s innings for 282 as Niroshan Dickwella was left stranded on 80. But the total has been already surpassed by the home side with eight wickets in hand.
Here’s how Twitter reacted during the day:
Kane Williamson last 3 test innings
89
100+
91— Charanist (@avndec31) December 16, 2018
Good batting today from the @BLACKCAPS. The big partnership with @Tomlatham2 and Kane Williamson. Have put the team in a strong position going into day 3 tomorrow. If we can build a lead. Sri Lanka will find it tough. #NZvSL #TestCricket
— Christian Catley (@ChristianRocks2) December 16, 2018
It's most painful, when Kane williamson got out on 90's 🙄😕#NZvSL
— Aqsa Asghar (@AqsaAsghar20) December 16, 2018
Today's the third time Kane Williamson has been dismissed on 91 in Tests, after Auckland (2013) and Bulawayo (2016). @BLACKCAPS #unlucky #Williamson #NZvsSL
— Mark Press (@Stuffedparatha) December 16, 2018
So happy for both my most favorite players today@imVkohli and Kane Williamson
😍😍😍😍😍— NaamMatPuchoBas (@Dramebaz_Ridhi) December 16, 2018
Kane Williamson what a coincidence in bw 5and5 the numbers are inter change for the same innings pic.twitter.com/t2xRVQsKMs
— ramakrishnaraju Nadimpalli (@sukeshraju78) December 16, 2018
Two batting masterclass today – Virat at Perth and Kane at the Basin. While the Kiwi missed out on his 20th, our superman skipper left Optus only after being grounded by the umpires #AusvInd #NZvSL #viratkohli #KaneWilliamson
— Ateet Sharma (@Ateet_Sharma) December 16, 2018
I really really enjoy Kane Williamson
— Toby Trumper (@toby1139) December 16, 2018
Mind goes for a spin whenever kane Williamson gets out in the 90’s (happens a lot in Odis which is understandable) But tests there’s no excuse and I think he has 4-5 outs in the 90’s in tests and 8-9 in Odis #NZvsSL
— kane thanos williamson (@llapskywalker) December 16, 2018
Kane Williamson & virat at it again . 2 best in the world .
Dominate every format #Cricket— raunak desai (@raunaklfc) December 16, 2018
On 65 occasions, New Zealand batsmen have been dismissed in the 90s.
Prior to Kane Williamson today, the last player to be dismissed in the 90s was Ross Taylor vs. West Indies in December 2017.
Oddly enough, Tom Latham (95*) has never been dismissed in the 90s.#NZvSL
— Matt Back (@MattNotFront) December 16, 2018
Kane Williamson and nervous 90s – ELEVENTH TIME… #NZvSL
— Fazal Aslam (@Faxal_Aslam) December 16, 2018
Most 90s by New Zealand Batsman in International cricket:
11 Nathan Astle
11 Kane Williamson*— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) December 16, 2018
At this rate, Kane Williamson will end up with more 90s in his career than hundreds. #NZvSL
— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) December 16, 2018
Tom Latham's century gives NZ lead in the first innings. #NZvSL pic.twitter.com/h0kxdHmwpk
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) December 16, 2018
Missed the hour and a bit of today’s play. Tom Latham really is a brilliantly underrated batsman. NZ are definitely not the one-man batting lineup they are occasionally portrayed as elsewhere 👏👏 #NZvSL
— 🏏 Evil Scootus⛷ (@evilscootus) December 16, 2018
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