On This Day in 2012 – New Zealand win first Test in Sri Lanka in 14 years
New Zealand’s first tour of Sri Lanka in 1984 was a fruitful one for them as they won the 3-match Test series by 2-0 margin. But in the next 27 years, the Blackcaps managed to win only one Test in Sri Lanka that too in the 1998 series opener but the hosts came from behind to win the series 2-1. Under the captaincy of Ross Taylor, the Kiwis returned to Sri Lanka in 2012 for a 2-match Test series.
Difficult beginning
New Zealand fancied their chances in the first Test hosted by Galle where they reduced the Lankans to 20/4 after posting 221 in their first innings. But the home side bounced back strongly to take a 26-run lead. Rangana Herath bagged six wickets in the second essay adding to his first innings 5-fer to bundle out the visitors to 118. The target of 93 was later chased down by Sri Lanka without losing a wicket.
Williamson leads the way
Sara Oval in Colombo was the venue for the 2nd Test where New Zealand elected to bat first but lost both their openers inside four overs. A marathon partnership between skipper Taylor and their No.3 batsman Kane Williamson began after the early wickets as the duo tired out the Lankan spinners and extracted runs at the same time. Williamson scored 135 from 305 balls with 12 fours while Taylor smashed 142 from 306 deliveries with 11 boundaries.
#OnThisDay in 2012, New Zealand secured their first Test win in Sri Lanka in 14 years!
Ross Taylor (142) and Kane Williamson (135) made ?s in the first innings while Trent Boult and Tim Southee picked up 15 wickets between them in the match.
?? beat ?? by 167 runs! pic.twitter.com/QCeX2njfYS
— ICC (@ICC) November 28, 2020
The pair shared 262 runs for the 2nd wicket in 96.1 overs before Taylor was trapped in front by Herath. The left-arm spinner bagged a 5-wicket haul but New Zealand finished with 412 with contributions from the lower order. Tim Southee and Trent Boult, the new-ball bowlers of Blackcaps, wrenched the Lankan top order as they were reduced to 12/3 inside six overs. Efforts from the middle order got them to 244 even while Southee (5) and Boult (4) shared nine wickets between them.
The rain did not allow full day’s play through the first three days as Sri Lanka were bowled out only on 4th day morning. Taylor decided to go for a win and in this process, aimed for quick runs. The No.4 batsman of New Zealand hit just two boundaries but got 74 from only 95 balls. Kiwis got to 194/9 in 54 overs before they declared the innings to set a target of 363 in front of the home side. New Zealand ensured they will have at least an hour to bowl before the stumps on 4th day by declaring shortly after the Tea break.
Southee and Doug Bracewell picked two wickets apiece to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 47/4 at stumps. However, Angelo Mathews gave strong resistance on the final day as they reached 168/7 in 81 overs at tea interval. But Sri Lanka lost two wickets in the first two overs after Tea as Mathews was left without any support as he tried to hit a few boundaries before getting out for a gritty 85. Sri Lanka got bowled out for 195 in the second essay and lost the match by 167 runs; same as the margin of New Zealand’s win over Lankans in 1998.
