SL tour of NZ, Dec 3 - Jan 10

[Arthur Crabtree]

Prasad is their best seamer, but unfortunately injured.

[dan08]

I thought Kusal Mendis showed some potential. Not sure what he's doing in the Test team at the moment though.

He only has 1 hundred and 1 fifty at first class level. FC average of 29.73, List A 18.38, T20 21.

[dan08]

Very green pitch.

[backfootpunch]

Very green pitch.

greenest test pitch i have seen in a very long time

like the groundsman broke his mower or something, this could be a short match

catch gets dropped already

[dan08]

Mendis dropped already.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Forgot about this. Excellent.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I read on cricinfo that this ground normally helps spinners, so they left all the grass on to negate that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

This is as green as the Lord's v India strip.

Wagner won't get a bowl until every blade on it is dead.

[dan08]

Not great from New Zealand so far. Bowling has been a bit wayward and a catch already dropped.

[Alviro Patterson]

I bet Jesse Ryder has played on greener surfaces this year

Forecast looks splendid for the 5 days, not sure if it's the camera but the pitch is already starting to lose it's colour.

[dan08]

SL looking pretty comfortable.

[dan08]

Ball crashes into the stumps and the bails don't come off! Must be Mendis' lucky day.

[Alviro Patterson]

Until the last few minutes, the green top looks more of New Zealand's hinderance as the bowlers don't know where to pitch the ball.

[dan08]

Mendis must be the luckiest batsman in the world.

Dropped twice in the first match. Dropped today, bowled but the bails didn't come off and gets a free boundary from overthrows.

[dan08]

Karunaratne gone.