Richard Hadlee once again N.Z. spearhead

Press, 14 March 1984, Page 56

Richard Hadlee once again N.Z. spearhead

NZPA staff correspondent Kandy The balance of the first cricket test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka swept in the tourists’ favour yesterday as four Sri Lanka wickets fell before lunch on the match’s fourth day.

Sri Lanka moved the overnight score of 50 for 2 on to 120 for 6 at the break but watched ruefully as four topline batsmen were returned to the pavilion. The nightwatchman, Rumesh Ratnayake, was first to go, followed quickly by his overnight partner, Susil Fernando, then the captain, Dulip Mendis and Arjuna Ranatunge followed on a profitable morning for New Zealand. Richard Hadlee was once again New Zealand’s bowling spearhead. He bowled seven overs in intense heat before lunch to take the wickets of Ratnayake and Mendis at a cost of 16 runs. He was solidly backed by the left-arm spinner, Stephen Boock, who showed sparkling economy to concede only nine runs in a ten over spell which brought the wicket of Fernando. Rumesh and Fernando fell to successive balls. Hadlee had the nightwatchman caught by the wicketkeeper, lan Smith, with the final ball of his ninth over when Boock claimed his

partner, caught by Jeff Crowe at first slip, with the first ball of the next. Fernando had made the main contribution to Sri Lanka’s total when dismissed, batting for 103 minutes for 29 runs. He batted with more competence and confidence than any of his partners on the third day but was well beaten by a ball from Boock, which took the edge of his bat as he tried to drive. Rumesh went driving as did Mendis, caught by John Bracewell at third slip, when he was only five. Ranatunge sparked a small revival with a stand of 27 in partnership with Ranjan Madugalle for the fifth wicket of which he contributed 20. He treated Lance Cairns mercilessly during his 44 minutes stay at the crease and the big man conceded 30 runs in a seven over spell before the break. Cairns had revenge, however, when Ranatunge drove across the line and was caught by Bracewell at

short leg with Sri Lanka at 89. Madugalle, dropped by Howarth at silly point when he was only one, joined with D. S. de Silva to slightly stem the slide before lunch. They had added 31 runs for the seventh wicket with Madugalle on 27 and de Silva unbeaten on 11. New Zealand first innings 276 Sri Lanka First innings S. Wettimuny c Coney b Hadlee 0 E. R. N. S. Fernando c Hadlee b 800 ck.... 29 S. M. S. Kaluperuma c Howarth b Bracewell 18 R. J. Ratnayake c Smith b Hadlee 6 D. L. R. Mendis c Bracewell b Hadlee 5 R. S. Madugalle not out . 27 A. Ranatunge c Bracewell b Cairns 20 D. S. De Silva not out . . 11 Extras (lb2, nb2) 4 Total (for 6 wkts) 120 Fall: 0, 38, 55, 55, 61, 89. Bowling.—Hadlee 13, 5, 19, 3; Cairns 14, 3, 43, 1; M. D. Crowe, 3,1, 4,0; Boock 17, 7, 27, 1; Bracewell 9,3, 23, 1.