Cricket: Black Caps still hold all the aces

New Zealand's James Franklin, centre, is congratulated by his team mates for dismissing Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu, foreground, for 16 on the fourth day of the second test at the Basin Reserve. Picture / Fotopress

New Zealand took two Sri Lankan wickets in the first session of day four to remain in control of the second cricket test here today.

Sri Lanka moved to 106 for three at lunch on day four, still trailing by 205 overall after Lou Vincent's 224 led New Zealand to a first innings of 522 for nine declared.

The tourists added 96 runs in the first session for the loss of captain Marvan Atapattu and night watchman Farveez Maharoof.

Atapattu was caught at first slip by Stephen Fleming for 16 off James Franklin, while Maharoof batted 151 minutes for a valuable 36 before Kyle Mills had him caught by Nathan Astle at second slip.

Franklin claimed the big wicket of Atapattu when he pushed forward and Fleming held his 135th career catch, ending the captain's 88-minute innings.

Maharoof, playing just his fifth test, got within four of his highest score before he drive at a Mills outswinger.

Kumar Sangakkara was not out 27 at lunch with vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene on seven.

The tourists were scoring at a run rate of just 2.47 as they looked to bat out the test.

Franklin had figures of one for 26 off 10 overs, Mills one for 26 off seven and Chris Martin one for 21 off 11 after taking the wicket of Sanath Jayasuriya yesterday.


* Scoreboard at lunch on the fourth day of the second cricket test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve today:

Sri Lanka: first innings 211

New Zealand: first innings 522-9 dec

Sri Lanka

Second innings (10-1 overnight)

S Jayasuriya c Vincent b Martin 2
M Atapattu c Fleming b Franklin 16
F Maharoof c Astle b Mills 36
K Sangakkara not out 27
M Jayawardene not out 7
Extras (4b, 6lb, 8nb) 18

Total (for 3 wkts, 43 overs) 106

Fall: 6 (Jayasuriya), 47 (Atapattu), 95 (Maharoof).

Bowling: C Martin 11-3-21-1 (2nb), K Mills 7-2-26-1 (1nb), L Vincent 1-0-2-0, N Astle 1-1-0-0, P Wiseman 13-3-21-0, J Franklin 10-2-26-1 (5nb).- NZPA