Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Karu 79
Matthews 83
Dickwella 73 not out

The Basin Reserve looking absolutely splendid today

Nowt like kicking back on the grass embankment at mid on/mid off region, taking in the game and hearing leather on willow.

Oh, and having a stroll on the hallowed turf during the lunch interval.

Well done to Southee on the 6-fer. I notice NZ-Tim averages 22 over the past two years with a much better SR than Mitch2, Jimmy the Saint, Big Vern and Lightning Boult. So well done to him. In fact only three bowlers with more than 20 wickets have better SRs. Morkel, Rabada and the incredible Abbas.

Good start by the Kiwi openers.

Superb day for NZ with runs all round. Well in control and time for the middle order to drive home the advantage.

That's Latham's first ton since Bangladesh nearly two years ago. He's averaged 35 since then so not as bad as that implies (and better than Raval).

Raval still waiting for a Test ton.

5 for Southee. Seems Niroshan Dickwella saved Lankan's during batting innings. Ton for Tom Latham - he needed this knock with Watling back and after a bad performances against Pakistan in UAE. With lead of 29 and 8 wickets intact won't be looking to bat again.

Looks like the Kiwis will be chasing an innings victory here. The top four all making runs for fun.

Excellent couple of years in Tests for Henry Nicholls, averaging over 52 after a slow start to his Test career. Three tons too.

My last stat for this thread!

Latham's seven hour plus knock is a bit of a marathon by present day standards.

Indeed. Latham making a late bid for innings of the year.

Latham carries his bat for an astonishing 264*, the highest ever total by an opener carrying the bat (eclipsing Alastair Cook's 244* at Melbourne last year).

And then Sri Lanka slip to 13/3 in reply. This is going to be a colossal hiding (if that wasn't apparent already).

If it's an innings victory as seems likely, Latham might earn the distinction of being on the field for every ball of the game. That can't happen often (although Cook did it last year, as England didn't bat a second time).

I remember Boycott doing it in 77...

11 hours and 30m from Latham in the end. Marathon man.

Fantastic from Latham! Sri Lanka in tatters... ....again..

Superb stuff from Tom Latham

Though I feel Latham's 177 against Bangladesh at the same ground in 2017 was better, considering New Zealand were replying to Bangladesh's 1st innings knock of 595 and the light on Day 3 was poor.