Fixtures

New Zealand Board President's XI v Sri Lankans Queenstown Events Centre
Thu Dec 3 - Mon Dec 5 10:30 local (21:30 GMT -1d)

1st Test - New Zealand v Sri Lanka University Oval, Dunedin
Thu Dec 10 - Mon Dec 14 10:30 local (21:30 GMT -1d)

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

1st ODI - New Zealand v Sri Lanka Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Sat Dec 26 (50 ovs) 11:00 local (22:00 GMT -1d)

2nd ODI - New Zealand v Sri Lanka Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Mon Dec 28 (50 ovs) 11:00 local (22:00 GMT -1d)

3rd ODI - New Zealand v Sri Lanka Saxton Oval, Nelson
Thu Dec 31 (50 ovs) 11:00 local (22:00 GMT -1d)

4th ODI - New Zealand v Sri Lanka Saxton Oval, Nelson
Sat Jan 2 (50 ovs) 11:00 local (22:00 GMT -1d)

5th ODI - New Zealand v Sri Lanka Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Tue Jan 5 (50 ovs) 11:00 local (22:00 GMT -1d)

1st T20I - New Zealand v Sri Lanka Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Thu Jan 7 (20 ovs) 15:00 local (02:00 GMT)

2nd T20I - New Zealand v Sri Lanka Eden Park, Auckland
Sun Jan 10 (20 ovs) 15:00 local (02:00 GMT)

_________________
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

Two more days to 1st Test.

And finally at a decent time!

Ready!

Hey Molly do you realize that there are TWO tests starting same day... 2 hours apart
(Test series Aust V WI)

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

NO .. I didn't notice, just looked at the one.

Wanted to stream on the TV so I could get other things done.

Will probably stream NZ and keep up with Aus at ESPNcric.
Have to rethink this.

Yeah... ya think YOU have problems... I have TWO sky channels showing cricket... so can watch both games... mind you to change channel I will have to go to other end of the house .. since I have a feed from Living Room... the exercise will do me good

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

I have Lift off on Cricket coverage... half hour before play due to start.. the BS Build-up show.

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

Sri Lanka win the toss.

Decide to bowl... think there is some grass on wicket... want to try and get a few early wickets.

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

Ok, Rumpole. I'm not deserting and staying with this match, have Aus v WI on espn stats. Will watch during breaks here.

This test is SO different.
I am enjoying the results so far, Guptill's batting, minimal maidens, great start.

And the commentators are perfect for me (since I am still learning).

Mood: Happy - a refreshing change from the World's problems.

LUNCH for next 35 minutes.
First ball at 1:15 PM.

New Zealand 114/1 (27.0)

TEA BREAK


2nd Session

Kane Williamson scores 50 on 53 deliveries!

First century partnership between Guptill and Williamson in the 16 times they batted together in Tests.

FOUR! Martin Guptill scores 103 on 147
3rd Test century for Guptill (after 40 inns) last one was 2011-2012 against Zim
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New Zealand 229/2 (54.5 ov)

Wickets
15.6 Latham (c & b Lakmal), 22 (46b)
54.5 Williamson (c Karunaratne, b Pradeep), 88 (123b)

Only 6 maidens (6 bowlers)

Sir Richard Hadlee is in the house.

Your boy Taylor is out... no great loss

Taylor (lbw b Pradeep) 8 off 12 balls

My personal "rule of thumb" is that the 1st innings should be done on second day.. tea time at latest... leaving plenty of time to get a result.. assume the other team bats about same length of time. If one side cant bowl the other out in a day and some part of a day... then likely the pitch favors batsmen too much. A result is less likely (not impossible)

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

LOL!
Today was not Taylor's day, that's for sure.

ESPNcric pop-up:

TAYLOR - THE BEST IN DUNEDIN

Ross Taylor's batting average in Tests at University Oval, before this match. Has made 524 runs in 8 inns - most by any batsman here.

104.80
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Martin Guptill passes 150 on 230 balls.

Stumps - Day 1

New Zealand 409/8 (90.0 ov) (4.54 runs per over)

Sri Lanka picked up 6 wickets in the 3rd session.

Another day... another $

I hope these last 2 wickets fall early.... regardless of which team you are rooting for..... 400+ is enough to make a game of this from here on out. We now need to see how Sri Lankan batting and NZ bowling perform.Sri lanka may well match that score by stumps today.. and so 3 days left to compete and get second innings done in time allowed. Else Sri lanka may collapse... if so the sooner the better for NZ... they need to bowl them out TWICE to win.
WEATHER may play a part over next 4 days.. so it always pays to get on with the game and NOT shag about wasting time.

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

New Zealand all out for 431 ...

Sri Lanka bats

Lunch



New Zealand 431/all out (1st innings)
Sri Lanka 38/2 (18.0 ov)

Sri Lanka trail by 393 runs with 8 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Stumps - Day 2


New Zealand 431
Sri Lanka 197/4 (81.0 ov)

Sri Lanka trail by 234 runs with 6 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

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

Play continues day 3.

Just past first drinks break, and the first hour of play....... SL have avoided the follow on, but remain 195 runs behind NZ 1st innings score. No wickets have fallen in this first hour.


New Zealand 431

Sri Lanka 236/6 (96.3 ov)

Sri Lanka trail by 195 runs with 4 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

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