Cricket: Mendis undermines NZ resistance

GALLE - New Zealand fought back strongly on the second day of the first cricket test against Sri Lanka here today.

The Blacks caps dismissed Sri Lanka for 452, grabbing seven wickets for 195 before reaching 87/2 at stumps.

Opener Tim McIntosh was unbeaten on 36 with night watchman Jeetan Patel on six.

New Zealand's fight back in the field extended to its vulnerable top order until new nemesis Ajantha Mendis's late breakthrough maintained Sri Lanka's advantage as the light faded at Galle International Stadium today.

New Zealand defended stoutly against the slow bowling double act of Muttiah Muralitharan and Mendis until less than five overs remained of an absorbing second day.

Mendis, the young offspinner who flummoxed New Zealand's batsmen when he first encountered them in June's ICC World Twenty20, was held at bay for 9.3 overs before he finally got one between Daniel Flynn's bat and pad to end his circumspect 14 from 44 balls.

Flynn was second out, following Martin Guptill who was bowled for a breezy 24.

McIntosh encapsulated New Zealand's determination, making his 36 from 88 balls before bad light stopped play with four overs remaining.

He'll have to lead the battle tomorrow to try to wipe out the 365-run deficit.

Although Flynn's loss was unfortunate, New Zealand could reflect on a much-improved performance with the ball today.

Given yesterday's thumping by Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera, Daniel Vettori's side rallied impressively to prevent Sri Lanka posting an uncatchable tally.

An innings well in excess of 500 was possible when Jayawardene and Samaraweera restarted their 159-run stand for the fourth wicket but the former captain only added half a dozen scratchy runs before he sparred a lifting O'Brien delivery shoulder height to Ross Taylor at first slip.

Jayawardene went for 114 in the second over, a key breakthrough though Samaraweera and inexperienced allrounder Angelo Mathews added a stubborn 86 runs for the fifth wicket before Vettori's perseverance was finally rewarded.

The New Zealand skipper endured a 31-over wait before he broke his duck when an arm ball cramped Mathews into tickling the delivery to Brendon McCullum's gloves -- the second o f the his four catches at the wicket.

However, Samaraweera always loomed as the coveted scalp.

The 32-year-old's 2009 run glut looked set to include a third double century -- following his 231 and 214 in consecutive tests in Pakistan five months ago -- once he progressed from 82 to his 10th ton at glacial speed.

But he once reached the milestone he moved up a gear, particularly a gainst Patel who provided the boundary ball for his century before conceding 23 off his next two overs.

Samaraweera needed 223 balls to complete his highest score against New Zealand but only another 43 to lope past 150.

But Vettori eventually got him, beating Samaraweera in flight before he skied a cross bat shot to Patel's safe hands.

Samaraweera's departure on 159 with 24 boundaries and only the second six of his 53-test career heralded a rapid end to Sri Lanka's innings as the last four wickets fell for a mere eight runs.

Vettori ended four for 78 from 37.4 probing overs, a haul that leaves him on 296 tests wickets.

Martin belatedly improved on his two-wicket burst early yesterday to complete the rout and close on four for 77.

O'Brien had the satisfaction of removing the lethal Dilshan and Jayawardene, and although his was not as erratic today his two for 125 from 21 overs was still an expensive exercise.

Vettori's spin twin Patel also endured a tough initiation to Sri Lankan pitches, his 24 overs for 120 going unrewarded.

SCOREBOARD

Scoreboard at stumps on the second day of the first cricket test played between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Galle International Stadium:

Sri Lanka

First innings (293-3 overnight)

T Paranavitana c McCullum b Martin 0

T Dilshan b O'Brien 92

K Sangakkara c Flynn b Martin 8

M Jayawardene c Taylor b O'Brien 114

T Samaraweera c Patel b Vettori 159

A Mathews c McCullum b Vettori 39

P Jayawardene c Flynn b Vettori 7

N Kulasekara c McCullum b Martin 18

T Thushara c O'Brien b Vettori 0

M Muralitharan c McCullum b Martin 8

A Mendis not out 0

Extras (1b 2lb 2w 2nb) 7

Total (all out, 117.4 overs) 452

Fall: 0 (Paranavitana), 16 (Sangakkara), 134 (Dilshan), 300 (M Jayawardene), 386 (Mathews), 408 (P Jayawardene), 444 (Samaraweera), 444 (Kulasekara), 452 (Muralitharan)

Bowling: C Martin 23-5-77-4, I O'Brien 21-1-125-2 (1w 2nb), J Oram 7-1-25-0, D Vettori 3 7.4-9-78-4, J Patel 24-3-120-0, J Ryder 5-1-24-0 (1w).

New Zealand

T McIntosh not out 36

M Guptill b Thushara 24

D Flynn b Mendis 14

J Patel not out 6

Extras (4b 3nb) 7

Total (for 2 wkts, 29 overs) 87

Fall: 45 (Guptill), 80 (Flynn)

Bowling: N Kulasekara 4-0-21-0, T Thushara 8-1-29-1 (3nb), A Mendis 11-3-26-1, M Muralitharan 6-2-7-0.

- NZPA