GALLE: Dinesh Chandimal scored an anchoring century to power Sri Lanka to 306/3 at stumps on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand here at Galle International Stadium on Thursday.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka in the first over. The young opener was caught behind off Tim Southee after managing to score just one.
Following the early hiccup, Chandimal joined Dimuth Karunaratne in the middle and launched a brilliant recovery.
The duo added 122 runs for the second wicket partnership, which lasted with Karunaratne getting run out. He fell narrowly short of his well-deserved half-century, scoring 46 off 109 deliveries with the help of four boundaries.
Dinesh Chandimal was then joined by veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews and the pair, banking on their experience, batted sensibly against the New Zealand bowling attack to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position.
Chandimal and Mathews shared a 97-run stand, which was eventually broken by Glenn Phillips in the third session of the opening day when he breached Dinesh Chandimal’s defence and knocked over the off stump.
Dinesh Chandimal remained the top-scorer for Sri Lanka with 106 off 208 deliveries with the help of 15 boundaries.
His dismissal did not halt Sri Lanka much as in-form Kamindu Mendis wasted no time in settling down.
He, alongside Mathews, had taken Sri Lanka past the 300-run mark with an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership when on-field umpires Nitin Menon and Michael Gough called it a day.
At the conclusion of the opening day, Mathews was unbeaten on 78 while Mendis had scored 51 not out.
For New Zealand, Tim Southee and Glenn Phillips could pick up a wicket apiece on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka.
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