***Official**** Sri Lanka in New Zealand 2014/2015

[Blocky]

The total was probably 20-30 short as many have said, but I feel like that was negated by the fact a decently in-form opener was dismissed in the last 4 overs - which if we'd batted on, may not have happened.

I am worried about Sanga and Mathews, it's not rocket science but they are the two that won't be mentally phased by chasing a 350+ total. History tells us the rest of them will struggle, no matter how flat. I also worry that Prasad might swing from the arse and give them a bit of momentum early. Getting him quick smart is probably much more important than Silva.

Obviously it'll also be a relatively easy one to stay in on and go nowhere if you don't want to get out.

How do you expect Neesham to bowl? I get the sense that without Wagner in the attack and no swing on the ball, he's probably our second most dangerous weapon behind Craig in these conditions.

 

[Flem274*]

he's probably our second most dangerous weapon behind Craig in these conditions.

nope

 

[Flem274*]

we need southee to come to the party. he's our leader and it sounds like he wasn't his usual self in the first innings.

 

[Blocky]

Down on pace, not getting swing and giving batsman freebies once an over at the moment. I hope he turns it around but based on his performance to date across these two innings, he looks in dire need of a rest.

 

[Viddly]

The problem with this viewpoint is

A: We just saw a pretty long standing world record broken in regards to run scored by a single partnership (Against SL). Williamson and Watling were able to bat 110 overs on this wicket and put on 365 runs, the wicket has not deteriorated any further since Day 3.

B: We saw last year on the same ground a similar partnership in the closing stages of a test match with Watling and McCullum indicating that batting here in the final days is pretty easy, irregardless of the bowling attack.

C: Yesterday afternoon, our main weapons looked practically toothless save for a couple of balls that beat the bat, before the wicket fell to a mistake against the spin bowler, Sri Lanka were keeping pace with the scoring rate.

Had we batted another 10 overs, put on another 35-45 runs and made it 100 overs to score 420+ then you've effectively removed any chance Sri Lanka have of winning the match, can afford to attack all day long without any risk of losing the match and set ultra aggressive fields.

It'll come down to where Sri Lanka are at with about 30 overs to go. If they're chasing say 150 with 30 to go, six wickets in the bank then they'll have a run at it. And they'll probably be favorites by that point too.

All of your points are valid but I think they all point to a draw not Sri Lanka winning. None of those batting feats were with any kind of run rate pressure on. I think you're right, they wpull probably have a Crack at 150 with 300 to go but to get there they'd have to score 100 a session until tea. I would be quite surprised if they have a go at this total at all.

 

[SteveNZ]

How do you expect Neesham to bowl? I get the sense that without Wagner in the attack and no swing on the ball, he's probably our second most dangerous weapon behind Craig in these conditions.

To be honest I didn't see him bowl throughout the first dig so I'm probably not well placed. I did see his first 2-3 overs and looked like both his line and lengths radars were all over the show? Really looks like he's not comfortable at all with where he's at when he gets to the crease. I wouldn't be expecting him to be the destroyer, more the guy who bowls 10-12 overs to give others a rest, and if he gets 1-2 for we're over the moon. I reckon once he gets his action right and feels like he's hitting the crease with rhythm, he's going to be a great asset again. But gee, I wouldn't be giving him too many overs at the World Cup on present form - with his pitch map and our ground dimensions it's going to make setting a field interesting.

Wouldn't mind seeing Boult come around this morning, if these guys bat like they did last night

 

[Blocky]

All of your points are valid but I think they all point to a draw not Sri Lanka winning. None of those batting feats were with any kind of run rate pressure on. I think you're right, they wpull probably have a Crack at 150 with 300 to go but to get there they'd have to score 100 a session until tea. I would be quite surprised if they have a go at this total at all.

They basically need 195 from 60 overs - 3.25 run rate. If they don't lose regular wickets outside of Prasad then that isn't exactly a hard run rate to achieve.

 

[SteveNZ]

Draw paying less at the TAB than an NZ victory, I reckon that's about right too.

 

[hendrix]

Southee has been off colour this whole series. Needs a rest I think.

 

[BeeGee]

Down on pace, not getting swing and giving batsman freebies once an over at the moment. I hope he turns it around but based on his performance to date across these two innings, he looks in dire need of a rest.

Needs a rest, for sure. Over doing it going for a fiver in the first test, coming into this test with an ankle injury, he just looks like a bloke who needs a break.

 

[Flem274*]

Rest him from the first four ODIs and play him in the last three?

We have a few against Pakistan too don't we?

 

[SteveNZ]

Rest him from the first four ODIs and play him in the last three?

We have a few against Pakistan too don't we?

Sounds like a pretty decent plan to me. 7 v Sri, 2 v Pak then warm-ups v Zim and someone else, yeah? Williamson could probably do with a rest too but I get the feeling his version of my sleeping in, golf and pale ale is batting.

 

[Blocky]

To be honest I didn't see him bowl throughout the first dig so I'm probably not well placed. I did see his first 2-3 overs and looked like both his line and lengths radars were all over the show? Really looks like he's not comfortable at all with where he's at when he gets to the crease. I wouldn't be expecting him to be the destroyer, more the guy who bowls 10-12 overs to give others a rest, and if he gets 1-2 for we're over the moon. I reckon once he gets his action right and feels like he's hitting the crease with rhythm, he's going to be a great asset again. But gee, I wouldn't be giving him too many overs at the World Cup on present form - with his pitch map and our ground dimensions it's going to make setting a field interesting.

Wouldn't mind seeing Boult come around this morning, if these guys bat like they did last night

During the big partnership of Chandimal and Sangakkara, he was the only one looking likely for stretches of it - his radar was back in alignment, bowling decent heat just outside off stump with the odd couple moving away from the left hander.

Boult bowled reasonably last night but I just think on this wicket, if the ball isn't swinging, he's not likely to factor until he can rush the tail with pace.

 

[Blocky]

Sounds like a pretty decent plan to me. 7 v Sri, 2 v Pak then warm-ups v Zim and someone else, yeah? Williamson could probably do with a rest too but I get the feeling his version of my sleeping in, golf and pale ale is batting.

Yeah, giving Williamson a rest simply means he'll be facing more balls than he would've in the game anyway down in a training lane.

 

[Viddly]

They basically need 195 from 60 overs - 3.25 run rate. If they don't lose regular wickets outside of Prasad then that isn't exactly a hard run rate to achieve.

It doesn't sound hard, but history strongly suggests that it's a hell of a lot harder than you think.

 

[Blocky]

It doesn't sound hard, but history strongly suggests that it's a hell of a lot harder than you think.

History also suggested that double centuries were a lot harder than you think, and that hitting 300 runs in ODI's were a lot harder than you think too. The problem with history is that it doesn't take into account the modern batsman, with the modern bat, on modern pitches. You basically have to discount anything before about 2005 if you want a realistic idea of scoring rates in test cricket these days.

 

[Blocky]

Rigor pointing out what I pointed out before, you need a sunny summer day for it to swing in Welly.

 

[BeeGee]

Good start.

 

[Blocky]

What a catch, superb.

Now the real game starts.

 

[straw man]

Geez you've all turned into a bunch of worrywarts. I think the declaration is fine and gives Sri Lanka only a very small chance of winning, which I'm comfortable with.

Wicket!