It was the opening day of the Boxing Day test at Christchurch between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first on a track that looked to favor the batsmen to a considerable extent. The Sri Lankan team had different plans though.
As it happened, Suranga Lakmal started off the proceedings for Sri Lanka while, on the other hand, it was Hamish Rutherford and Tom Latham who opened the innings for the Kiwis. They required a strong opening partnership while Sri Lanka required early breakthroughs. Lakmal succeeded in providing the first breakthrough for Sri Lanka. He bowled out Rutherford right in the 14th over of the innings. Soon after that, Latham was dismissed by Shaminda Eranga.
So, then it was the responsibility upon Williamson and Ross Taylor to steady up the scorecard for the kiwis. But unfortunately, there was a confusion created in running between the wickets as a result of which, Ross Taylor was run out at the score of 7. New Zealand were in a bit of spot of bother with 88 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.
In the second session of the day’s play, New Zealand dominated after the wicket of Ross Taylor fell. There was a blistering innings being played by Brendon McCullum. He smacked boundaries in regular intervals and in no time scored the fastest century in tests. He reached to his century in a matter of 74 deliveries.
Williamson, on the other end, assisted McCullum quite well and gave him the bunch of the strike. But right to the close of the second session, Williamson was dismissed at the score of 54 runs and thus the partnership of 126 runs came to an end. New Zealand were poised at 215 runs for the loss of 4 wickets at tea with McCullum batting at the score of 102 runs.
The third session was started by McCullum in the same destructive manner. He carried on with his destruction and spared no bowlers. He reached his 150 in quick time and also, was in the path of scoring the fastest double century when he was dismissed. It was rather an unfortunate thing. He was dismissed at the score of 195 runs off 134 deliveries with the aid of 18 fours and as many as 11 sixes.
He was dismissed by Kaushal. But there was a partnership being built even after his dismissal. Jimmy Neesham and BJ Walting went on to build a strong partnership but Neesham was dismissed after that and he managed to score 85 runs. It was a great knock too.
Finally, at stumps of the day, New Zealand are well poised at the score of 429 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. 80.3 overs were bowled today. Angelo Mathews was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka. He took 2 wickets.
Image credits – Sportal