*Official* New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2019

[Fuller Pilch]

Declare just before drinks. Tough luck if one of them is marooned in the 90s.

 

[straw man]

Nah the big unknown is how much play we'll get in, so need to start with the thing we absolutely must do to win i.e. take ten wickets. Just have to take our chances with a small chase at the end of the day.

Infuriating weather though.

 

[Bahnz]

Nah the big unknown is how much play we'll get in, so need to start with the thing we absolutely must do to win i.e. take ten wickets. Just have to take our chances with a small chase at the end of the day.

Infuriating weather though.

All depends on the forecast. If they're confident of getting 90+ overs in, I'd bat on for another hour (tell BJ to either pull finger or retire out) and look to scrabble together another 75ish runs. It'd be easier to do it first thing in the morning than in the murk of this evening. Look to win by an innings, knowing that if we can't bowl SL out within 80 overs we'll have no chance of winning anyway.

If on the other hand it's looking like intermittent showers throughout the day, then yeah, declare now and hope for the unlikely scenario where Soult and the spinners roll them for a 100.

Covers are off and there's a bit of blue sky around, but we'll probably have a delayed start according to NZC's twitter account.

 

[straw man]

Hmm, I hear we are going to keep batting. I just don't see how we could have enough confidence that the rain and bad light will stay away to do that.

Do they think it will be demoralising for SL?

 

[Bahnz]

Hmm, I hear we are going to keep batting. I just don't see how we could have enough confidence that the rain and bad light will stay away to do that.

Do they think it will be demoralising for SL?

They don't have to stay batting for long. If they do this right, stay out there for 10 overs, rack up 70+ runs it could save us a couple of overs related to a changeover later in the day. Also it'll be a lot easier to bash runs against a tired attack this morning then if they've had the morning and afternoon to rest up. Not an easy decision to make, but bowling SL out for under 130 in 50ish overs is a bit of a pipe dream in my opinion, so I think it's probably the right way to go.

 

[NZTailender]

need to get to 200 lead imo if we want to win by an innings.

 

[NZTailender]

Send out Southee

 

[NZTailender]

yessss BJ

 

[straw man]

Congrats Waltling! No mucking around from him this morning.

 

[Bahnz]

Yay Watling well deserved.

Reckon 3 more overs after this one and then declare no matter what.

 

[NZTailender]

Yay Watling well deserved.

Reckon 3 more overs after this one and then declare no matter what.

I think the psychology of a 200+ lead is worth another 7 overs imo

Though at this rate they'll only need 3 to get there

 

[Moss]

Nice one Watling, potentially very valuable knock. Bat till drinks IMO, then try to recreate final day scenario of last year's Abu Dhabi test. Of couse Lanka are far less likely to implode and the weather will be a factor too.

 

[Chewie]

6outhee!

 

[NZTailender]

So the target was either 50 or 5 overs

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Surprised they didn’t bat on a bit longer in the end!

Edit: duh, this gives them a few overs with the second new ball, so good call I suppose.

 

[straw man]

Ok that worked pretty well.

Now for the hard part.

 

[Bahnz]

Would’ve given them one more over, but meh very nicely done overall.

 

[Moss]

Would have batted on for a bit longer but there's no telling how much play you'll actually get in, I suppose.

Perfect from the test match six machine, hope he's suitably keyed up with the new ball too.

 

[Grasshopper]

The rain might win this one, but moral victory is ours!

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Actually was hoping Southee could keep going for a while.