Allrounder Jacob Oram blazed a maiden test 50 and figured in an innings-saving partnership with opener Mark Richardson and Robbie Horne as New Zealand rallied to 171 for five at lunch on Monday on the third day of the second test against Sri Lanka.
Richardson posted his second defiant half-century in successive matches as the Kiwis thwarted Sri Lanka’s bid for quick wickets on the third morning of the rain-hit test at Asgiriya Stadium. Continuing his watchful run-grafting, Richardson scored a 221-minute 55 before becoming the only New Zealand wicket to fall before the lunch interval.
At the break, Oram was not out on 50 and wicketkeeper Hart was unbeaten on 19, the pair adding 62 runs for the sixth wicket. Oram, who had not opened his account on Sunday, played the supporting role to Richardson during their 38-run fifth wicket partnership, before unveiling his strokes in Hart’s company to reach his maiden half-century in the last over before the break.
Sri Lanka’s seamers, who had the Black Caps struggling at 75 for four on Sunday, after the first five sessions were washed out due to rain, failed to budge overnight batsmen despite an early start under overcast conditions. Following up his six-and-a-half hour 85 in Colombo’s series opener, Richardson was once again required to play a dour knock after watching top leading batsmen perish at the other end.
Resuming at his overnight score of 32, the left-handed Richardson added another 23 before popping up a bat-pad catch off young legspinner Kaushalya Lokuarachchi to Kumar Sangakkara at short-leg.
Richardson struck nine boundaries from 185 deliveries to recordhis 15th 50 in 24 tests. He also has two hundreds.
New Zealand’s survival-first approach saw it get just 25 runs in the first hour on Monday, taking it past the 100-run mark in 50,1 overs when Richardson’s cover drove offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan to the fence. Another straight-driven boundary in the same over completed Richardson’s 50.
His fifth-wicket stand with Oram fetched just 38 runs from 139 balls, but it arrested the slide. Oram then took control, stroking 10 boundaries in his unbeaten 163-minute knock from 120 deliveries. Hart held up the other end for 70 minutes, hitting three boundaries from 68 balls. – Sapa-AP