Wicket

Sri Lanka 294 & 165/4 (71.2 ov)

Sri Lanka require another 240 runs with 6 wickets remaining

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Wicket Maiden

Sri Lanka 294 & 165/5 (73.1 ov)

Sri Lanka require another 240 runs with 5 wickets remaining

I have been busy... and missed last period..... looks like SL dropping like flies

Lunch


New Zealand 431 & 267/3d
Sri Lanka 294 & 224/6 (84 ov)

Sri Lanka require another 181 runs with 4 wickets remaining

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

IMO SL can not survive 2 sessions... so they just as well "go for it".... with a little bit of caution...

They still only need 3 r/o

and..... Last 10 ovs 59/1 RR 5.90

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Both sides.. and McCullum in particular, deserve credit for a Test match that is still very much "alive" into the afternoon of the 5th day. Exciting with all all 3 results still possible (win, win, or draw).

Further to my point that the pundits will be on McCullum's case IF SL win... those same pundits will be up McCullum's ass if (when) NZ win... saying how marvelous he is and how they liked his "brave call"

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Baby steps... SL... but dont get bogged down....

They need 176 at the moment.. their target should be reducing the required runs to below 150

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Excluding that last over (they shouldn't have played before lunch), last 10 overs produced 2 wickets.

This is what I meant by "if the batsmen get aggressive, wickets will fall." This may be a given in any cricket match and I may have tunnel vision with my limited observations.

You're a tough commentator to follow, so I'm gonna toot my own horn when I see fit.

LOL, I just now saw the Sri Lanka flag on the past post.

Wicket... that stuffs it....

New Zealand 431 & 267/3d
Sri Lanka 294 & 236/7 (86.2 ov)

Sri Lanka require another 169 runs with 3 wickets remaining

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

And another wicket....


New Zealand 431 & 267/3d
Sri Lanka 294 & 249/8

Sri Lanka require another 156 runs with 2 wickets remaining

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

SL now require less than 150 to win... but wickets in hand make that very unlikely


New Zealand 431 & 267/3d
Sri Lanka 294 & 256/8

Sri Lanka require another 149 runs with 2 wickets remaining

Next target... requiring <100 runs to win

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Wicket.. Chamira....out for 14.. apparently a "curse score"... he has never scored more than 14 in any form of cricket... that remains

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Last wicket falls...

NZ WIN


New Zealand 431 & 267/3d
Sri Lanka 294 & 282

NZ win by 122 runs

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

2nd Test Starts Friday ( Thursday in Texas)

2nd Test - New Zealand v Sri Lanka Seddon Park, Hamilton
Fri Dec 18 - Tue Dec 22 10:30 local (21:30 GMT -1d)

(3:30 pm, Thursday Texas Time)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I am ready! I could really get used to this Test time. I can't believe it.

Going to enjoy this one, learn as much as I can -- observing everything, so I may drive you crazy with questions.

Thanks for all your expertise.

Questions.. oh good!

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

McCullum won the toss... opted to bowl "The wicket looks to be a bit green"

That means.... McCullum thinks that the wicket will start out a little hard to bat on. Sri Lanka say they would have done the same.

This is what is referred to as "putting the opposition side in"

On a perfectly flat wicket a side would usually opt to BAT first. Bat on the wicket while it is at it's best.. the opposition then have to bat last.. likely on a 5th day with the wicket having deteriorated over the 5 days.

So... the tactic of putting the other side in is done in the "hope" of getting a few early wickets in the very early stages before the wicket settles down and becomes "easy" to bat on.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Well explained, Rumpole. No questions, yet.

I'm ready (after a quick reboot).

Thinking 2-3 (or more) wickets before lunch.

Yes... 2 or 3 is what McCullum is thinking.... 1 or none and the tactic of putting the opposition in will be regarded as a FAIL!

But you cant fault McCullum... all the so called experts would suggest doing that.

McCullum has done exactly the RIGHT thing... he will ADD to that by setting very attacking fields.. 3 slips an a gully.. lots of close in fielders....

......it is up to the Bowling attack to make good use of the opportunity... a "fail" will be down to them.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light