*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2012

[Grasshopper]

Another half an hour and we'd have had them on the ropes.

[Flem274*]

Stage is set for Martin Guptill to save his career tomorrow with 74 (80) including two drops and a close lbw shout going for the declaration as his fellows collapse to 150 all out around him.

[Bahnz]

This is so typically New Zealand. Get into a position form which any competent and confident team would push on to a win, and then meekly surrender the advantage. ****.

Only hope now as for Timmeh to break through fast and often tomorrow morning. If SL are still in by lunch, this game is dead.

[Mike5181]

Far out, Taylor could be in trouble with this over rate. Patel and Astle bowled quite a few overs as well.

[hendrix]

On this wicket with this little movement, you'd generally expect edges to be thick rather than thin, so I would think third slip very important.

Yup.

They always have an extra slip in for Southee because he's outswing. And then we always see thick edged flying off Boult.

Very frustrating.

Fresh day tomorrow boys.

[Bahnz]

Far out, Taylor could be in trouble with this over rate. Patel and Astle bowled quite a few overs as well.

Always thought Jeets gets through his overs very slowly for a spinner. But the real issue is the glacial changing of the ends by the fielders.

[Grasshopper]

This is so typically New Zealand. Get into a position form which any competent and confident team would push on to a win, and then meekly surrender the advantage. ****.

Only hope now as for Timmeh to break through fast and often tomorrow morning. If SL are still in by lunch, this game is dead.

No, we're still ahead.

[Flem274*]

I'm reading the SA in NZ thread and we were whinging about Guptill there too. It's annoying because there is literally no other opener in NZ who hand on heart you can say is ready for test cricket.

So instead of beating myself up about him being in the side I have a different tactic: pretend he doesn't exist except when fielding.

[Bahnz]

I'm reading the SA in NZ thread and we were whinging about Guptill there too. It's annoying because there is literally no other opener in NZ who hand on heart you can say is ready for test cricket.

So instead of beating myself up about him being in the side I have a different tactic: pretend he doesn't exist except when fielding.

He did probably save us 70 or 80 runs with that catch today.

[straw man]

So SL 192/3 today - it was always going to be a hard slog for us to get wickets and tbh I would have been happy enough with that from first 70 overs today. It's a real problem losing all these overs though - no way they'll be able to make them up.

Disappointed we didn't get a breakthrough early with the second new ball. Must get one early in the morning and hope that more follow.

[BeeGee]

No, we're still ahead.

There's not enough time left in this game for NZ to win it. It's day four and SL are still batting in their first innings. Even if a miracle happened and NZ were batting again before lunch, NZ would still need to bowl SL out in one day on a good batting deck.

Credit to Randiv and Samaraweera. At 128 for 6 SL were in deep trouble, but their partnership has all but saved the game for them.

[SteveNZ]

"It's not my fault they keep getting out. It's like I should be apologising. I've bowled it, it's pitched on middle, gone on and you've missed it. Gee, what a wanker."

Takes himself very seriously. He'll have a google alert set for himself so g'day Lance Dry, everyone thinks you try too hard. And that you're part of the Sam Whitelock All Stars as people who closely resemble their last name.

[_Ed_]

And that you're part of the Sam Whitelock All Stars as people who closely resemble their last name.

[BeeGee]

And that you're part of the Sam Whitelock All Stars as people who closely resemble their last name.

[SteveNZ]

Haha Sue Yoo is a beauty. I don't know if Lucious Pusey resembles his name but certainly Robert does, and given Mr Yoo Suk failed three times at 5.50m, he does too.