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                              SL vs NZ 2nd Test Day 5 Live – Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Live Now

Teams:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Kumara

New Zealand (Playing XI): Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, William Somerville, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult

Kane Williamson: It’s the last match of the series, need to improve in this game. There were positives in the last game, but expecting an improved performance. We thought it (pitch in the last match) was going to age quicker – but it didn’t really happen. Hopefully we can take few early wickets. It’s a good surface, hopefully we get swing initially and assess the conditions as the game goes on..

Dimuth Karunaratne: You get some movement in the first few overs, we need to play that watchfully. The boys are in pretty good shape. As a senior player you have to take the onus and get few runs under your belt. One change, Akila misses out, Dilruwan comes in.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to bat

Pitch report: Looks like there’s lot more grass on it, we have different types of grass, resulting in different shades. Looks like a very good Test pitch as it’s hard, there’s a bit dryness too. You have to do the hard work early and set it up for yourself, reckons Russel Arnold.

13:05: “Play scheduled to start at 1.40 pm with play going on till 6 pm with light and weather permitting,” tweets Roshan Abeysinghe. We are moments away from the toss, stay tuned as we bring you the team sheets.

12:50: Things have got much brighter and the toss is scheduled for 1:10pm local time, that is around 20 minutes from now. The groundstaff have done well to make conditions favourable for playing in such a short time.

12:35: We are hearing that there will be an inspection very soon.

12:00: No rain at the moment. The covers are being removed, but the pitch is still protected. Quite a lot of water on a few sheets. It is slightly brigther than before, but there are clouds in the distance. The draining will take a lot of time. Meanwhile, we see some spillage on the outfieldtoo and that doesn’t look good. No sun to dry out. Super soppers will be enforced later. For the moment, everyone will take lunch.

11:20: “Sadly the covers are back due to Gray skies,” is the latest tweet by Roshan Abeysinghe. There’s forecast for rain throughout the day, but let’s keep our fingers crossed. Hopefully, play will get underway sooner than later..

11:10: Right then, right then! Miraculously, the rain has stopped and the covers are being peeled off. We get a sight of the pitch, which seems to have a tinge of green from a distance. Niroshan Dickwella too spoke about it the pre-match presser. He reckons this is a better surface than Galle and expects a high-scoring game, while the pacers will also be able to get some help, thanks to the greenery.

10:50: The rain seemed to have eased for a bit, but it has picked up. I am afraid, this isn’t looking good. The morning session is definitely not happening. There is more rain forecast. The groundsmen need a lot of time to recover too. So any cricket, if at all, on the first day is a long way away.