Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and persistent light rain yesterday ensured that New Zealand’s second Test against England at the Basin Reserve is most likely to end in a damp draw today.
The hosts were on 162-2 after the rain had disrupted much of the fourth day’s play with 39 overs lost after lunch and 16 overs at the end of the day due to more rain after play had resumed at 5:10pm.
Williamson (55) and Taylor (41) combined for an unbroken 81-run partnership in New Zealand’s second innings, though they were still 49 runs from making England bat again, before they were forced off again at 5:30pm and, despite attempts to restart, play was abandoned at 5:55pm.
Photo: Reuters
“There was still a lot of time left in the game when we arrived here this morning, but in terms of making sure we don’t lose the game it [the rain] has helped,” New Zealand batsmen Peter Fulton said.
“There was a slight chance we could have batted well today, and piled on some runs and put some pressure on England later tomorrow,” he told reporters.
Persistent rain is forecast for the Wellington region today.
Photo: AFP
England’s only breakthrough came in the first session when Fulton prodded at a James Anderson delivery and the ball flew to Alastair Cook at first slip.
Fulton’s dismissal for 45 left New Zealand 81-2 and with Monty Panesar extracting turn from the pitch, the hosts were nervously facing the prospect of losing the match.
However, Williamson brought up his sixth Test half-century when he pulled a Joe Root delivery to midwicket.
Light rain began falling at lunch and groundstaff placed covers over the wicket block at the start of the break, but intermittent, persistent showers in the afternoon meant only a further six overs were bowled.
New Zealand added nine runs before they were forced off again for the final time.
SRI LANKA V BANGLADESH
Reuters, COLOMBO
Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten 127 to guide Sri Lanka to 294-6 at the close on the second day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh yesterday.
A 195-run stand between Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal (102) helped the hosts overcome a top-order collapse and take a 54-run lead at the close of play.
Rubel Hossain bowled Chandimal to put an end to the partnership, which helped Sri Lanka go past Bangladesh’s first innings total of 240.
Bangladesh were on top in the first session after taking three quick wickets and Sri Lanka were reeling at 69-4 at one stage, before Sangakkara and Chandimal fought back.
INDIA V AUSTRALIA
By staff reporter
Australia trailed India by 16 runs with seven second-innings wickets remaining at stumps at the end of the fourth day of the third Test in Mohali yesterday.
Earlier, India were dismissed for 499, with debutant Shikhar Dawan scoring 187 and fellow-opener Murali Vijay making 153.
Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 67 for the hosts, while paceman Peter Siddle took 5-71 for the Aussies.
Australia ended the day on 75-3, with Phil Hughes on 53 and Nathan Lyon on 4. Medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar took all three wickets for the hosts.
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