I don't think we're on top at all, we would have wanted to bowl them out for 200 or less given we have to bat last. If Sri Lanka get 350+ this becomes a very difficult test.
A very insipid final session of Day One from the bowlers so far. A sobering reminder of how middle of the road our spin bowling options really are...
@canefan that’s a big yeah nah…..
@Donsteppa indeed. Hardly Jadeja or Ashwin are they ?
An edge to Sri Lanka at 302/7.
If we can wrap this up nice and early we’re doing ok, if these guys build a niggly partnership far less so.
It’s always a worry when the most effective spin bowler isn’t really a full time spin bowler.
Santner back to his old ways by the looks of things.
Will O’Rourke continues to impress, very important with Jamieson constantly breaking down and Wags and Boult out to pasture.
I think we did reasonably well, and Mendis showed that there are not loads of demons in the pitch. Problem for us now, is even if we bowl them out for 350, we still are going to need a pretty extensive lead. Wouldn't want to be chasing more than 180 in the fourth innings, so working backwards, what do we need?
Parity is essential, a 50 run lead preferrable, a 100 run lead and the match is likely ours I would think? The trouble is, I don't see a huge score in our future, because in these conditions you need everyone contributing as SL pretty much had.
Perfect start - all out, only added an extra 3 runs, another 5fer for O'Rourke. Sri Lanka are ahead, but some good focused application can get us on top here.
O’Rourke with all the 5s……I would have chosen Henry so nice to be proven completely wrong. Shame he didn’t get just a bit more support.
Conway well overdue a score.
@Cyclops said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
Perfect start - all out, only added an extra 3 runs, another 5fer for O'Rourke. Sri Lanka are ahead, but some good focused application can get us on top here.
Cue the collapse then...
@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
Latham looking good, Conway scratchy.
Good to get a 50 partnership up
59/0
This is all your fault.
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
In Kane We Trust
Apparently his average at this ground is 3.5, lets hope he can increase that by a large amount.
@LABCAT said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
In Kane We Trust
Apparently his average at this ground is 3.5.
3.5.
So far.
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
Latham looking good, Conway scratchy.
Good to get a 50 partnership up
59/0
This is all your fault.
Well I did say he was scratchy. I’ve done nothing wrong
@LABCAT said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
In Kane We Trust
Apparently his average at this ground is 3.5, lets hope he can increase that by a large amount.
Strange, but true!
Obvoiusly rising as he scores runs
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@LABCAT said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
3.5.
So far.
didn't read through the thread and thought 3/5 was out batting score and was about to vent
now Im pleasantly surprised 
@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
Latham looking good, Conway scratchy.
Good to get a 50 partnership up
59/0
This is all your fault.
Well I did say he was scratchy. I’ve done nothing wrong
The bar is so low with Conway right now, any mention of him being not out is criminal
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@LABCAT said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
In Kane We Trust
Apparently his average at this ground is 3.5, lets hope he can increase that by a large amount.
Strange, but true!
Obvoiusly rising as he scores runs
Hes doubled it already!
Was the third umpire seriously going to give that out LBW off the arm if it was hitting the stumps???
@Stag said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
Was the third umpire seriously going to give that out LBW off the arm if it was hitting the stumps???
Yep, thankfully well outside the line.
36.1.3 the ball not having previously touched his/her bat, the striker intercepts the ball, either full-pitch or after pitching, with any part of his/her person
probably a fair comment for once from a fan on cricinfo
Rajiv: "The Rangana Herath element could be in full effect here. Despite being the spin bowling coach I'm sure he has imparted plenty on to the NZ batters on how to tackle spin"
Watched a fair bit of it today - good watching.
Of course, as soon as I start typing up a bit of commentary, Kane gets out.
Each time NZ is on a brink of a game changing partnership, they lose a wicket.
EDIT. And Ravindran too. Best I log off.
255/4. 50 behind.
We’ll take that. Enough batting left to build a handy lead if things go our way !
I know it is the BCs but I can’t see them collapse and end up less than 304….
@MN5 you've already been warned once. STFU with your positivity and optimism. 
This is the fucking Black Caps we're talking about.
Amateur.
A more appropriate post at the end of play when NZ are involved is. "We are fucking doomed. We are only 570 in front with nine wickets in hand and we will be batting last against Kenya. We have no fucking chance".
So, overs unders for getting bowled out in teh 4th innings is about 160. I dno't think we want to chase more than 200.
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
So, overs unders for getting bowled out in teh 4th innings is about 160. I dno't think we want to chase more than 200.
I'd have agreed before the test match, but honestly their spin attack was rubbish yesterday. Yes we batted well, but that would be the worst test bowling from Asian spinners at home v NZ I could remember for a long time.
@frugby said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
So, overs unders for getting bowled out in teh 4th innings is about 160. I dno't think we want to chase more than 200.
I'd have agreed before the test match, but honestly their spin attack was rubbish yesterday. Yes we batted well, but that would be the worst test bowling from Asian spinners at home v NZ I could remember for a long time.
4th innings though ... you just throw it up and see what happens. It's really really hard to bat.
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@frugby said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
So, overs unders for getting bowled out in teh 4th innings is about 160. I dno't think we want to chase more than 200.
I'd have agreed before the test match, but honestly their spin attack was rubbish yesterday. Yes we batted well, but that would be the worst test bowling from Asian spinners at home v NZ I could remember for a long time.
4th innings though ... you just throw it up and see what happens. It's really really hard to bat.
Yeah it is going to take a decent amount of spin on day 5,it will be hard to play straight then.
We would not want to chase to many.
Southee maintaining his average of the last few years does make his selection as captain a bit unfortunate.
Not sure why we felt the need to have 3 left arm spinners (if we include Ravindra) but I don’t know the make up of the Lankans batting line up well enough to comment whether Bracewell might have been more dangerous than Santner. 2 leftarmers and 2 offies. Of course my dead Grandmother is more dangerous in tests than Mitch. Hopefully he proves me wrong later in the match.