*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka

[straw man]

I hear it all the time from the nz camp, we're playing for time... how bout play to win for once.

I have no doubt that if we'd managed to knock over Jayawardene and Samaraweera early on the first day that NZ would have been very much targeting a win. As it was, their good batting and our often poor bowling meant that pretty much only SL could win by the end of the first day. Since then it's been about trying to equal SL's score and maintain some sort of parity, or failing that, bat time to send the match to a draw. That's the reality of the situation.

Realistically, touring SL in SL is always going to be hard. If we were playing SL in NZ at present then we would be very much looking to win.

Our innings has been overall disappointing, but at the same time a few of the batsmen have shown that they can survive M&M (though they'll probably be more difficult again in Colombo) and score a few runs. A pity that none of them went on to a century, but neither did we capitulate as we have many times in the last couple of years. Assuming say 140 overs remaining in the match, if we can hold on for a draw, hopefully comfortably, rather than collapse in a heap for 120, the team will deserve some plaudits.

 

[Flem274*]

The new NZ side must win every single game by an innings or else they have underachieved and failed epically etc etc. Draws in SL, which would equal what a much better side did last tour, are an abject failure etc etc.

 

[Athlai]

I think most of the batting has been quite good TBH, its the tripe bowling that has really let us down.

 

[slugger]

Ive got a question about winning a test match...

is there any prize money, or is it just a trophy.

does the icc need to look at some sort of big incentive to encourage teams to play to win, which far out weigh a draw..

 

[Zinzan]

Name me one person who thinks like this.

Not a terrible effort from us, we werent completely blown out of the water which many were expecting to happen, which is a good sign.

Totally agree.

What a load of tripe some of the recent posts have been in criticizing NZ as much as they have.

Like you, I reckon they've played M & M much better than I'd have thought, and hey, credit where credit's due, Murali in particular bowled magnificently.

I'm not sure whether its patriotism or just ignorance that cloud people's judgment to the extent where they just can't comprehend just how difficult it is (particular for teams from the west) to play Murali & Co and these
conditions. They somehow think NZ ought to be competitive by rights, when they simply don't have the skill or experience in the side, as demonstrated by the fact none of the top-order have played tests in SL before.

Whilst I'd love a win, I'm a realist & would be more than happy with a hard-fought draw at this point.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Vettori showing too much faith in O'Brien?

 

[Craig]

O'Brien is out. Vettori should just slog Mendis.

 

[Craig]

Vettori showing too much faith in O'Brien?

Martin should just try and play some shots.

 

[Craig]

Martin has survived 4 balls against M & M.

 

[Pratters]

Martin gets off the mark!!!!!

 

[Athlai]

Marto to hit a cracking 6.

 

[straw man]

Vettori showing an enormous amount of faith in Martin too. Surprised he isn't trying to slash some fours.

And Martin gets a 1 ... or a 2! (edit: cricinfo is confusing me)

 

[Craig]

113.5 Mendis to Martin, 2 runs, doosra, Martin presses forward and edges wide of slip

Has lasted 8 balls. Must be a new record.

 

[Craig]

Marto to hit a cracking 6.

If MacIntosh can...

 

[Athlai]

Vettori should just Southee it.

 

[straw man]

113.5 Mendis to Martin, 2 runs, doosra, Martin presses forward and edges wide of slip

Has lasted 8 balls. Must be a new record.

Speaking of records, pretty pleased we've managed to bat 115 overs this innings. Contrast that to some other recent efforts where we've scored at higher run rates but batted only 40 to 60 overs.

McIntosh faced more than 30 overs by himself - whatever else can be said about him his concentration once he gets going is excellent.

 

[Athlai]

An acceptable score IMO. We bowl them out for 150 and we're still in this.

 

[straw man]

An acceptable score IMO. We bowl them out for 150 and we're still in this.

Yep, Patelitharan to tear through them.

Seriously though, SL will look to set a target and we must get Dilshan early so that they can't get those runs too quickly.

 

[Craig]

Yep, Patelitharan to tear through them.

Seriously though, SL will look to set a target and we must get Dilshan early so that they can't get those runs too quickly.

And Sangakkara and Jayawardene...

 

[Athlai]

Yeah we can't be looking to bat much more than 100 overs and we can't be expected to score more than 3 an over. So anything over 300 will start to look good to SL, will probably set us between 350-400.
So 50-60 overs from SL at 4+ an over is what they'll want.