*Official* New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2019

[straw man]

Obv need a wicket very very soon tomorrow to stay in this match.

Can't help but feel NZ and the batsmen in general have trolled themselves this match into thinking it was a more difficult wicket than it is - 300-350 par imo and batsmen have just underperformed. Yes there's something for the bowlers and it is just possible you'll get a really good ball, but that's rare enough that you can accumulate steadily in the mean time, like these two SL batmen have..

 

[Burner]

Like I said it was 50\50 on a 150 chase. Either SL or Sri Lanka would have won.

 

[Flem274*]

getting it in the bum from thiri ****ing manne. dark days.

 

[Maximas]

Funny game, seems like every partnership has had a very deflating effect on the bowlers, pitch is flatter than everyone was saying and the rain just hasn't come, if this is the reason that Thirrimanne is persisted with for another 10 matches then a possible test win has come at a very high cost however, although batting Dimuth back into form is a decent trade-off

 

[vcs]

Funny game, seems like every partnership has had a very deflating effect on the bowlers, pitch is flatter than everyone was saying and the rain just hasn't come, if this is the reason that Thirrimanne is persisted with for another 10 years then a possible test win has come at a very high cost however, although batting Dimuth back into form is a decent trade-off

Fixed that for you

 

[Migara]

if santner can't even take wickets in the subcontinent and is going to bat like that he can be a white ball specialist forever tbh

If he cannot take it on a wearing Galle wicket, he will not. For me he is the biggest danger man if he gets it right. modern day Underwood or Tuffnell (without antics of course), who spears it in pace. If he gets something off the pitch at that pace and keep on bowling length, don't think many batsmen can play him.

 

[Maximas]

Fixed that for you

Was honestly my first thought

 

[Maximas]

If he cannot take it on a wearing Galle wicket, he will not.

This isn't a typical wearing Galle wicket though - I've seen spicier day one decks, like a lot spicier tbh

 

[M0rphin3]

Very much favoring SL right now. Especially given how many of these ****s average more in the second dig. Even ****ing Thirimanne is scoring runs. Although I'd love a lollapse here a la Pakistan.

Anyway, fielding's been sub par and Santa's been shockingly underwhelming. Also reckon Somers bowled a little too short on this pitch - looked good when he pitched em up for the most part.

 

[nzfan]

Luck just hasn't favored our boys. Sommerville bowled better this inning than the first. Santner wasn't as bad as the scorecard suggest. Even Ajaz wasn't bad either, just that the half chances we let go hasn't helped.

Fifth day is a whole different ball game. I can still see cat among pigeons if we pick one or two early wickets.

 

[trundler]

So, uh, was Karunaratne lucky as **** or what?

 

[Hicheal Michael]

Kane needs to stop eating these damn cakes - he did the same on the 2016 india tour and even missed the 2nd test.

 

[NZTailender]

Seems like we've missed a lot of opportunities but fairplay to the openers for making the most of it. This match has been a cracker - hope it isn't a straight cakewalk for SL today though.

 

[Maximas]

Yeah both teams had the chance to put their feet on the throat of the opposition in pretty much each innings but threw key wickets away quickly, SL with a chance to finally do so today

 

[NZTailender]

I have a feeling we'll get a sniff but SL should do this 5 down. Mathews not out at the end.

 

[vcs]

So.. this looks on.

Bizarre Test match, they don't look in much trouble at all TBH. Maybe SL are actually brilliant at 4th innings chases or we all misjudged this pitch. Can still change quickly, obviously.

 

[vandem]

Can't help but feel NZ and the batsmen in general have trolled themselves this match into thinking it was a more difficult wicket than it is - 300-350 par imo and batsmen have just underperformed. Yes there's something for the bowlers and it is just possible you'll get a really good ball, but that's rare enough that you can accumulate steadily in the mean time, like these two SL batmen have..

Thought the same at lunch on day 2. Even at 5-203 after day 1, we should have ground out 300+. But limp shots (or no-shots) to a steady Lakmal.

 

[Maximas]

And again, just as NZ were right on the ropes, but the top and middle order should be able to settle and end this one comfortably, Ajaz has been hit off his lines a bit

 

[vcs]

What a shot from Kusal Mendis.

 

[vcs]

Sri Lanka are approaching this really well. Patient yesterday, upping the tempo today as soon as they lost a wicket.