Cricket: NZ post first innings lead

Lou Vincent in action against Sri Lanka. Picture / Fotopress

New Zealand got within one run of Sri Lanka's first innings total before tea and went past it soon afterwards on the second day of the second test today.


Lou Vincent neared his third test century as the Black Caps went to the tea break on 210 for four in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings of 211, with Vincent on 71 and captain Stephen Fleming on 32.


At 3.50pm the score had moved on to 236 for 4.


The pair added an unbroken 57 for the fifth wicket before tea after left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas took two wickets in two balls to rock New Zealand's reply.


Vaas removed opener Craig Cumming leg before wicket for 47, in 217 minutes, then had Nathan Astle caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan at short leg first ball.


That reduced New Zealand to 153 for four but Vincent and Fleming steadied the innings.


Vincent reached his ninth test half-century off 95 balls and passed 1000 runs in his 20th match.


He was promoted to No 4 after Fleming dropped down the order after suffering heavy bruising to his left knee when hit by the ball while fielding yesterday.


Vaas had taken every wicket to fall and had figures of four for 60 off 21 overs at tea.


First test man of the match Lasith Malinga was yet to take a wicket, with his 11 overs costing 45 runs.


Scoreboard at tea:


Sri Lanka
First innings 211


New Zealand
First innings (52-0 overnight)
C Cumming lbw b Vaas 47
J Marshall lbw b Vaas 28
H Marshall c Jayawardene b Vaas 6
L Vincent not out 71
N Astle c Dilshan b Vaas 0
S Fleming not out 32
Extras (5b, 11lb, 8nb, 2w) 26
Total (for 4 wkts, 71 overs) 210


Fall: 61 (J Marshall), 70 (H Marshall), 153 (Cumming), 153 (Astle).


Bowling: C Vaas 21-7-60-4 (8nb), L Malinga 11-1-45-0 (1w), F Maharoof 17-7-48-0, M Jayawardene 6-2-14-0, U Chandana 13-4-21-0 (1w), S Jayasuriya 3-1-6-0.


- NZPA