Twitter Reactions: Tom Latham's stupendous effort floors Sri Lanka
Latham scored a massive 264 runs and carried his bat.
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New Zealand end the third day of the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka ensuring that they will close out the game halfway through the fourth day. On a pitch where Tom Latham blunted the ball for close to 700 minutes and carried his bat, Sri Lanka’s top-order couldn’t handle a tricky period. They lost three quick wickets just before the stumps and have their backs against the wall now.
With the pitch flattened out, they would’ve thought that the openers will go unscathed in the 12 overs which they had to bat. But Trent Boult struck in his second over to pin Danushka Gunathilaka in front of the stumps and the latter wasted the review as well. Tim Southee then worked his magic to castle Dhananjaya de Silva and then stun Dimuth Karunaratne to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 13/3 again.
Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews somehow survived the remaining overs to end the day on 20/3 and are still behind by 276 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Latham’s double century highlights the day
Earlier in the day, Ross Taylor was dismissed off the very second delivery thanks to a stunning reflex catch from Karunaratne at short leg. However, this was the only success in the morning for the visitors. Henry Nicholls came out and batted with authority to score a half-century even as Tom Latham did his usual thing of batting time. But Nicholls was soon sent back by Dilruwan Perera.
The wicket though was just a consolation for the tourists with Colin de Grandhomme also having fun out in the middle. Nicholls, at the other end, was playing some exquisite strokes to notch up his 150. He added 73 runs with De Grandhomme and got close to his maiden double hundred. Without much fuss, the left-hander got to the milestone as well and then started playing his shots fearlessly.
Soon Latham crossed the 250-run mark as well and there were no declaration signs from Kane Williamson. The tail kept swinging the bat to take the lead close to 300. Trent Boult also did the same and was dismissed eventually by Lahiru Kumara who bowled his heart out to pick four wickets. But the total lead was extended to 296 runs as the Kiwis were bundled out for 578 runs. Latham carried his bat remaining unbeaten on 264 with 21 fours and a six.
It is only a matter of time now before New Zealand will win this game on the fourth day unless Mathews or Chandimal achieve the unthinkable in Wellington.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Top drawer performance by @BLACKCAPS opener Tom Latham! 👏😎 Fab double ton Tommy!!! 👊🏻😬 Ya dad, ‘Rocking Rodney’ be proud as punch 👌💥🎉 #hatsofftoyouTL @SriLanka vs @BLACKCAPS at the #BasinReserve
— Danny Morrison (@SteelyDan66) December 17, 2018
Congratulations @Tomlatham2 A fabuous show indeed #NZLvSL Enjoyed watching that flawless innings
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) December 17, 2018
This really is a hell of an innings by Tom Latham.
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) December 17, 2018
Only 2 Cricketers have Scored '264' Runs In Intl Cricket.
ODI – Rohit Sharma (264, 2014)
Test – Tom Latham (264*, Today)*Both these knocks came against Sri Lanka. #NZvsSL #RohitSharma #TomLatham pic.twitter.com/D6PxuLcfvp
— Hit wicket (@sukhiaatma69) December 17, 2018
Tom Latham becomes the first batsman to score 264 (not out) in Test cricket history!
No one has also made 265 in Tests!#NZvSL— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 17, 2018
Tom Latham 264*:
– Highest Test score by a batsman to carry their bat
– 2nd NZ batsman to carry their bat in Tests & 1st in NZ
– 2nd highest Test score by a NZ opener; Bryan Young 267 in 1997
– 4th highest Test score at Wellington
– 6th highest Test score by a NZ batsman#NZvSL pic.twitter.com/IOTwKm5WML— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) December 17, 2018
@Tomlatham2 congratulations on your double century. 😀👍🎉🏏🇳🇿. Looking forward to seeing you, on the field, throughout the entire test match. Must be a record for a New Zealand cricketer @FPayne100 (if that happens)? #NZvSL
— Nix Sport (@nixsport) December 17, 2018
Sri Lankan bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake compares Tom Latham’s record breaking knock for @BLACKCAPS to that of Martin Crowe and his 299 at the same ground in 1991. He would know as he went for 30-1-101-0 against Crowe #NZvSL
— Daniel McHardy (@SnakeMcHardy) December 17, 2018
264 carrying his bat. What an innings from Tom Latham. Take a bow. #NZvSL https://t.co/Y0rZG38ve5
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 17, 2018
Latham's double ton is only the 2nd this year in tests. The other one was Mushfiqur Rahim for the Bangers #NZvSL
— Mick AgЯo (@MickAgro) December 17, 2018
Sri Lanka continues to struggle in international cricket! #NZvSL
— Gontse Matea (@Gontse_Matea) December 17, 2018
What a disastrous day for @OfficialSLC why are they unable compete? @chandi_17 @CHathurusinghe you guys have lot to answer #NZvSL
— Fazmin Hussain (@Fazminator) December 17, 2018
Man T Latham just scored a double century. An underrated cricketer in this format..Kiwis got gem of a player. #NZvSL
— Atish sharma (@atishsharma990) December 17, 2018
Another complete performance from @BLACKCAPS against @OfficialSLC at stumps on the 3rd day of the 1st #NZvSL test. Polished and ruthless. SL 20-3 in response to 578, trailing by 276. Surely the NZers are worthy of more tests based on 2018 form? How about 4 in Australia next year?
— Andrew Alderson (@aldersonnotes) December 17, 2018
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