SL vs NZ 1st Test Day 3 Updates Today Match
The third day of the Test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was a tense battle, with both teams putting in a hard-fought effort to gain control. While Sri Lanka holds a slim advantage, the contest remains finely balanced after three days of intense cricket. A challenging session saw 103 runs scored and 3 wickets fall, with the game hanging in the balance. Let’s look at SL vs NZ 1st Test Day 3 Updates.
With a lead of over 200, Sri Lanka holds the upper hand, but New Zealand will look to strike early on Saturday morning, especially with wickets tending to fall quickly during the morning sessions. A rest day due to the presidential elections will give both teams time to regroup and prepare for what promises to be an exciting finish to this well-contested Test match.
Chandimal and karunaratne’s Flexible Stand Saves Sri Lanka
The day began with Sri Lanka resuming their innings, and the duo of Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne looked solid at the crease. They built a crucial partnership, soaking up pressure from the New Zealand bowlers.
The pair’s resilience allowed Sri Lanka to extend their lead and set a foundation for the middle order. The partnership seemed to take the game away from New Zealand for a while as both batsmen displayed a blend of caution and aggression, capitalizing on loose deliveries.
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Wickets Crumble for New Zealand at Start of the Day 3
However, New Zealand found a way back into the match, striking in quick succession to break Sri Lanka’s momentum. Chandimal and Karunaratne’s dismissals triggered a mini-collapse, with Sri Lanka losing three wickets in quick time.
New Zealand bowlers, led by Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, used the conditions to their advantage, getting the ball to rise sharply off the surface. The footmarks created opportunities, but luck was not on their side as they failed to completely capitalize on the opening.
Mathews Fights Hard to Stear Sri Lanka to Safety
After the quick dismissals, New Zealand had the chance to put Sri Lanka under more pressure, but veteran Angelo Mathews and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (DDS) showed great composure.
The pair navigated through a tricky period, surviving some close calls, including a narrow LBW decision against Mathews late in the day. Their partnership helped steady the innings and extend Sri Lanka’s lead to a respectable 202 runs by the end of the day’s play.
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