Blair Tickner of New Zealand and his teammates celebrate the wicket of Kusal Mendis of Sri Lanka during the third day of the 1st Test cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval on March 11, 2023 in Christchurch. photo credit: AFP
A blistering century from Daryl Mitchell, a blistering 72 from Matt Henry and three wickets from Blair Tickner turned the tide for New Zealand in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Sri Lanka had claimed the initiative on the first two days of the Christchurch Test, but were 83 for three in their second innings to take a 65-run lead at stumps on the third day.
Sri Lanka’s assistant coach Naveed Nawaz admitted that New Zealand had “turned the game in their favour”.
Angelo Mathews was 20 not out, Prabhat Jayasuriya was also at the crease on two, and Nawaz suggested Sri Lanka would need at least 200 runs.
“Daryl Mitchell and Matt Henry, the partnership took the game away from us,” he said.
“But we have to back ourselves that some of our batsmen will go out there and get stuck in and score some big runs to swing the game back in our favour.
“It’s a good wicket to bat on and still gives a bit to the fast bowlers so I think anything above 275-300 will be a good score.”
A 102-run lead from Mitchell and Henry, including a 58-run boundary, saw New Zealand recover from 151 for the first five wickets to be all out for 373.
Tickner took three wickets for 28 runs in 10 overs before stumps in 38 overs by captain Dimuth Karunaratne for 17 runs, Oshada Fernando for 28 runs and Kusal Mendis for 14 runs.
Sri Lanka, who need to clean sweep the two-Test series to keep alive their hopes of reaching the final of the World Test Championship, rattled New Zealand’s top-order.
But Mitchell, who has often been New Zealand’s savior in his 17-Test career, refused to give up as he toiled hard for his eighth century in 193 balls.
The 31-year-old right-handed batsman, son of former All Blacks player and coach John Mitchell, raised his average to 58 runs in 25 innings.
He added 54 with Michael Bracewell, 47 with Tim Southee and 55 with Henry for the sixth wicket.
After completing his century, Mitchell jumped in the air, waved his bat and hugged Henry in celebration. He added only two more runs before being caught off the bowling of Lahiru Kumara and New Zealand were 291–8.
Henry then scored his personal best innings of 72, which included 10 fours and three sixes.
He dismissed spinner Dhananjay de Silva from the attack for 17 runs in just one over.
Worse was to come for Sri Lanka when Kasun Rajitha, in place of de Silva, conceded 24 runs to Henry in his first over.
It was a wicket on the third day that continued to assist the bowlers, with both Rajita and Asita Fernando finding momentum early in the day.
By the drinks break, Bracewell, who had looked the more settled of the New Zealand pair overnight, was undone by the introduction of left-arm spinner Jayasuriya.
Bracewell had a life when an appeal for LBW was turned down, with a review showing height was an issue, but Jayasuriya got an edge with the next delivery and Bracewell was caught behind for 25.
Southee brought up New Zealand’s 200, smashing Jayasuriya over the mid-wicket fence, and continued to swing with the new ball until the third over, when he was caught diving by Kumara at square leg.
The New Zealand skipper hit Rajita for back-to-back fours but his effort on the third fell short and he was dismissed for 25 off 20 balls.
For Sri Lanka, Fernando returned best figures of four for 85 while Kumara took three for 76.
A point of concern for New Zealand was the fitness of Neil Wagner, who left the field in the final season to be treated for a foot injury.