Tickner claims three wickets in fiery spell

Blair Tickner of the Black Caps celebrates the wicket of Kusal Mendis of Sri lanka during Day 3 of the first cricket test match, New Zealand Black Caps Vs Sri lanka, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand. 11th March 2023. © Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2023 www.photosport.nz

New Zealand paceman Blair Tickner was in devastating form at Hagley Oval taking three Sri Lankan wickets in the afternoon session on day three of the first cricket test.

Sri Lanka will take a 65-run lead into day four in Christchurch but that will be scant consolation for blowing a dominant position in a match they need to win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Earlier a Daryl Mitchell century and a brilliant 72 from Matt Henry helped New Zealand to an unlikely first-innings lead of 18 runs before the home bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 83 for three at the end of the third day of the first test.

The Black Caps resumed on 162-5, still trailing Sri Lanka’s 355 by almost 200 runs, but Mitchell quickly made it clear he was determined to cut the deficit to a manageable tally as he worked his way to his fifth test century.

After all-rounder Michael Bracewell had departed for 25, Mitchell put on 47 with skipper Tim Southee (25) and another 56 with Henry before being caught behind off Lahiru Kumara for 102 with parity 64 runs away.

Supported by an equally aggressive 27 from Neil Wagner, Henry took the game to the Sri Lankan bowlers and plundered 24 runs off one Kasun Rajith over to edge the Black Caps into the lead.

His 75-ball innings came to an end when he was bowled by a Asitha Fernando yorker, the wicket giving the Sri Lanka seamer figures of 4-85.

A final flourish from Wagner eked out the lead a little further before the New Zealand bowlers put away their bats and got down to the business of trying to drive home the advantage.

The bowling was tight and the Central Districts fast bowler Tickner took all three wickets at the expense of 28 runs.

Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne departed for 17 to a fine catch by Henry Nicholls at gully, while Oshada Fernando made 28 from 52 balls before he edged the ball behind.

Kusal Mendis was caught in the slips off an imprudent shot leaving Angelo Matthews (20 not out) and Prabath Jayasuriya (2 not out) to resume on Sunday. Sri Lanka will qualify for the WTC final if they can sweep New Zealand in this two-test series and if Australia can deny India victory in the fourth test in Ahmedabad.

There was some concern for Black Caps bowler Neil Wagner who left the field late in the session on Saturday evening to assess a leg injury after taking a big tumble on the pitch.

– Reuters