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Despite losing the toss, New Zealand produced a masterful response, dismissing Pathum Nissanka in the opening over then pouching Dimuth Karunaratne at first slip not long after. Dinesh Chandimal tried to play aggressively, but New Zealand’s aggressive strategy—keeping in a second slip—paid off quickly, as he was the third top-order batsman from Sri Lanka to fall short. And Will O’Rourke’s no-ball off the last delivery of his over meant that his next one, the extra delivery, strangled Angelo Mathews down leg, sealing New Zealand’s flawless day.
Greetings from the fine limits of madness universe. Though it doesn’t seem as good as the Marvel one, don’t believe for a moment that New Zealand wouldn’t think about making all kinds of dubious moral decisions to seamlessly enter any other universe at this very moment.
Sure, Nissanka did manage to edge behind off the last ball of the first over, and yeah, Sri Lanka won the toss, but that’s about it. From then on, New Zealand seemed to be an alternate universe in which they were a little less skilled than before.
After Tom Blundell mishandled a stumping, Karunaratne was eventually let off after Daryl Mitchell had grassed him at first slip. While this was going on, Chandimal was lucky enough to avoid third slip and gully when he was only on four. However, in the 13th over, he made the same mistake again since New Zealand had chosen to forgo a second slip.
Ultimately, these expensive mistakes led to a 122-run second-wicket stand—exactly what captain de Silva would have wanted to achieve when he claimed his sixth consecutive Test toss.
The breakthrough itself was against the flow of the game. When Chandimal refused Karunaratne’s request for a quick run to midwicket, there was a misunderstanding that prevented the former player from getting close to his crease. It was only to a throw from Glenn Phillips that found Tom Latham at short leg rather than Blundell nearer the stumps that he even managed to make the frame.
The incident where Mathews was strangled along his leg following a no-ball—well, in this case, the ball was also a no-ball. It really couldn’t be scripted, but then again, there are allegedly an endless amount of realities. Soon after, Mathews managed to edge one behind as well, but as luck would have it, the ball missed first slip.
Four runs shy of his 16th Test century, Chandimal then carried on with his chanced innings, eclipsing Tim Southee at short cover with a driving edge. And just to cap off the achievement, he managed to push past first slip on still another drive after attaining the milestone.
Playing all around a sharply twisting off break from Phillips, Chandimal ultimately fell, with New Zealand being uncharacteristically unreliable in the field. Although Sri Lanka had amassed 221 runs by that point, the first Test had demonstrated that wickets tend to produce additional wickets. However, even quadriceps aren’t safe when you’re running poorly.
In what other way would you interpret the sequence of events that transpired: After edging twice through an empty second slip area, Kamindu gained a decisive edge that Mitchell could barely parry for four points. Disastrophy? That might work, in theory. Particularly after Mathews, who was the third batter from Sri Lanka to be dropped, walled off a stinging bouncer from the unfortunate O’Rourke that Latham, who was at second slip, could only reach with his fingertips.
Fortunately for the visitors, Sri Lanka finished the day with 306 runs at stumps for the loss of three wickets, meaning that was the last of their near misses. However, in Test cricket, especially in Galle and especially on a fresh day, things can turn around very rapidly.
“That’s part and parcel of the game, but it really makes you feel like you’re in it. And if you can create some pressure for a long period of time, then you definitely feel like you’re not that far away from a couple of quick ones. We could come out tomorrow and they could potentially be bowled out for 330, as simple as that.”
But until then, New Zealand would, as a collective perhaps, do well to keep an eye out for any stray banana peels or rakes lying around.