Latham, Williamson lead New Zealand's riposte

Kiwis 255-4 on rain-hit 2nd day of 1st Test, trail by 50 runs

FE Team | Published: September 19, 2024 21:55:11

GALLE, Sri Lanka, Sept 19 (Agencies): Tom Latham and Kane Williamson led New Zealand's fightback with sparkling half-centuries as the Black Caps reached 255-4 on the rain-hit second day of their opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle to trail by 50 runs on Thursday.
The Black Caps at stumps in Galle with Daryl Mitchell (41) and Tom Blundell (18) to resume in the morning.
No New Zealander has scored a Test century in Galle and both Williamson and Latham looked set to end that drought before falling against the run of play.
Their 73-run partnership steadied the reply to Sri Lanka's first innings of 305 but ended when Latham fell before tea for 55, top-edging a sweep shot that was caught at backward square leg.
World number two batter Willamson departed in the final session for 70 while trying to work Dhananjaya de Silva on the leg-side for a single, caught by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.
Aggressive sweep shots from the Kiwis foiled a concerted Sri Lankan spin attack and forced the hosts to spread the field.
It countered New Zealand's usual vulnerability to spinners at Galle, where the tourists have lost all four of their prior Test matches played there.
De Silva had a second wicket when he bowled Rachin Ravindra, finishing 2-31 in an otherwise lacklustre day for the hosts.
Fewer than five overs were played in a morning session delayed by rain.
Sri Lanka belatedly resumed their first innings from 302-7 overnight but lost all three remaining wickets for just three runs.
Rookie New Zealand fast bowler William O'Rourke took 5-55, his second five-wicket haul in just three Tests since his February debut against South Africa.