AP, New Zealand :
Tim Southee took 5-67 as New Zealand exploited an influential toss to contain Sri Lanka to 275-9 Saturday on the first day of the first cricket Test at the Basin Reserve.
A late unbeaten half century by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella helped swing the day a little in Sri Lanka’s favor. Dickwella hit 10 fours and was unbeaten on 73 at stumps, losing his last partner, Kasun Rajitha, to the last ball of the day.
Southee had earlier claimed three wickets inside the first four overs, leaving Sri Lanka 9-3 as the ball swung in overcast and humid conditions. The innings was revived by a gallant fourth-wicket partnership of 133 between Dimuth Karunaratne (79) and Angelo Mathews (83), who frustrated the New Zealand bowlers for large parts of the first and second session.Southee returned to claim a further two wickets after tea to stifle the Sri Lanka fightback and to complete his eighth five-wicket total in tests.
“There’s still four hard days to go,” Southee said. “I think (the key) was just to pitch it up. Anytime you have the Basin on day one, historically over the last couple of years there’s been assistance for the new ball but if you can get through that it becomes easy.” On balance, New Zealand won the first session, Sri Lanka the second and the third was shared thanks to Dickwella’s late flurry of boundaries.
Southee gave New Zealand the upper hand with an outstanding display of swing bowling with the new ball, dismissing Danushka Gunathilaka (1), Dhananjaya de Silva (1) and Kusal Mendis (2) in the space of his first two overs.
