Perfect start for Sri Lanka

A pleasing start for Sri Lanka on the 1st day of the 1st test match of the series on Thursday at Christchurch, New Zealand, captain  Tim Southee won the coin toss and elected to field first.

After losing the toss, Sri Lanka lost Oshada Fernando early, with the score at 14 runs. After the dismissal of Oshada Dimuth Karunarathne and Kusal Mendis made a 137-run partnership for the second wicket. Kusal Mendis scored 87 runs in 83 balls and put pressure back on the New Zealand bowlers. Dimuth Karunarathne scored 50 runs. After that, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews added 82 runs for the fourth wicket before Chandimal was dismissed for 39 runs. 27 runs later, Angelo Mathews was dismissed for 47 runs.

At the end of the day’s play, Sri Lanka scored 305 runs for the loss of six wickets, and Dhananjaya de Silva stayed on not out for 39 runs and Kasun Rajitha at the other end with 16 not out.