SL vs NZ: Dinesh Chandimal’s Century and Mathews’ Unbeaten 78 Put Sri Lanka in Command on Day 1 Against New Zealand

Chandimal’s Century Leads the Way

Sri Lanka did not get off to the expected start. Sri Lanka lost their first wicket at 2 runs. Pathum Nisanka was caught out by Captain Tim Southee to Tom Blundell for 1 run. Dimuth and Dinesh Chandimal then shared a partnership of 122 runs for the second wicket. Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham broke the pair. Dimuth Karunaratne was run out on 46 runs. After that, the experienced pair of Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews put on a partnership of 97 runs for the third wicket. Dinesh Chandimal completed his 16th Test century during this partnership. Dinesh had a chance to turn this innings into a big score. But Dinesh got out after scoring 16 runs. Dinesh scored 116 runs in 208 balls with the help of 16 fours

Mathews and Kamindu Mendis Build Strong Partnership

After that, the pair of Kamindu Mendis and Angelo Mathews stood firmly in the field. Both of them did not lose a wicket until the end of the game. Both have shared an unbeaten partnership of 87 runs for the fourth wicket. Mathews scored an unbeaten 78 off 166 balls with the help of 6 fours. Kamindu Mendis scored 51 runs not out with 1 six and 8 fours in 56 balls. This is Kamindu’s eighth Test half-century. Now how does this pair start the next day? Everyone’s attention is going to be on this.

At stumps, Sri Lanka was well-positioned at 306/3, with Mathews and Kamindu looking to build on their solid start when play resumes.

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New Zealand’s Bowling Struggles

New Zealand’s bowlers struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batters. Tim Southee and Glenn Phillips were the only ones to pick up wickets, while the rest of the bowlers found it difficult to break through Sri Lanka’s partnerships.

New Zealand Playing XI: Team Southee (Captain) Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ejaz Patel and William O’Rourke.

Sri Lanka Playing XI: Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Pathum Nisanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, Prabhat Jayasuriya, Nishan Paris and Asitha Fernando.