New Zealand have managed to get a couple of wickets in the first session and will look for more when play resumes © Getty Images
Sri Lanka take lunch at 108 for 2 on Day One of the second Test at Seddon Park, Hamilton. Tim Southee has picked up both wickets to fall in the morning session. He first dismissed dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne for 12 after he inside edged the ball safely into the hands of BJ Watling. In his very next over, he followed it up with the wicket of Kusal Mendis for 31, with a late swinging delivery, which took the outside edge and was safely pouched by the wicketkeeper once again. Mendis had made a slow start, but was getting a move on. New Zealand picked up his wicket perhaps just at the right time. Live Cricket Scorecard: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2015-16, 2nd Test, Day 1 at Hamilton
Mendis got a lucky break of Southee’s first over of the day. He edged one to slips where Ross Taylor dropped a catch, diving to his left. Mendis, sadly did not make it count and has been dismissed after he got off to a decent start. The bowlers have bowled well and have exploited the conditions well so far. New Zealand will hope that they can get a couple of quick wickets in the second session, but they have to hang on to every chance they get. Live Cricket Updates: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2015-16, 2nd Test, Day 1 at Hamilton
Dinesh Chandimal and Udara Jayasundera are the two unbeaten batsmen. Chandimal has been in good form of late. He in fact scored twin half-centuries in the first Test and he will hope that he can steady the innings and take Sri Lanka to a good position. He has not gotten bogged down under pressure in this match and has played scored whenever the opportunity arose. Chandimal and Jayasundera have brought up their 50-run stand as well. Chandimal also managed to hit Doug Bracewell for three boundaries in one over to put the pressure back on the Kiwi bowlers just at the end of the first session.
Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first. The decision did not come as a surprise as the pitch was a green top and New Zealand with four seamers in the team would have wanted to exploit it. Both teams have gone onto the match with the same playing XI. New Zealand lead the two-Test series 1-0, courtesy of a 122-run win at Dunedin.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 108 for 2 (Kusal Mendis 31, Dinesh Chandimal 41*, Tim Southee 2 for 24 ) vs New Zealand.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)