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December 09, 2006 (Link to Scorecard)

New Zealand have won the first Test Match at Christchurch against Sri Lanka by five wickets in what was a low scoring game in all the innings. The Test Match could last just under three days thanks to the seamer friendly wicket at the Jade Stadium. The Black Caps stuttered in chasing a moderate target of 119 in their second innings, they won the Test Match by just 5 wickets. A few more runs from the Sri Lankans in their second essay could have made a different story.

Among both the sides, the stand out batsman was Kumar Sangakkara who scored an unbeaten 100 which helped the Lankan bowlers to have something to fight with. The left hander who was playing as a pure batsman was instrumental in taking Sri Lanka from a disastrous 99 for 8 to 170 all out. He stood tall in driving and pulling the ferocious Shane Bond who had softened up the visitors with a match haul of 7 for 106. The Kiwis took 33 overs to get 119, the target by losing five wickets. Experienced bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan with two and three wickets respectively had done the damage on the third day. Opening batsman, Craig Cumming was the top scorer with a brisk 43 that had 4 fours and 2 sixes.

It was a bold and bad decision from Mahela Jayawardene on the first day when he had opted to bat first under overcast conditions when he had won the toss. The Sri Lankans couldn't handle the pace, movement and the bounce generated by the seamers to fall apart for 154 in 52.4 overs only. Shane Bond and James Franklin picked up three wickets apiece. Chris Martin, the opening bowler had gone onto take his 100th Test wicket when he had got the wicket of Prasanna Jayawardene. Martin now holds the dubious record of scoring the least runs with the bat, just 48 runs having taken 100 wickets after playing 32 Tests! Upul Tharanga with 33 and Chamara Kapugedera with 37 were the only meaningful contributors in SL's 154. Debutant middle order bat, Chamara Silva had a bad first Test as he was cleaned up by Franklin for a second ball duck.
 

In their first innings, New Zealand had knocked off 85 runs losing two wickets at stumps on the opening day with Mathew Sinclair on his comeback making 36. Jamie How, the opener was dismissed in the second over for a duck by Lasith Malinga. In the second day's play, Sri Lanka fought back strongly to take eight wickets for 121 runs in 55.4 overs. The top scorer was Daniel Vettori who made 63, his 12th half century. Craig Cumming and Stephen Fleming made forties. The chief destroyer was Muttiah Muralitharan who took 4 for 65 in 34 tight overs. Chaminda Vaas took three while Lasith Malinga took two wickets.

Having restricted the New Zealand's lead to 52, the Sri Lankan batsmen failed to utilize the opportunity of coming back in the Test Match. They spoilt the bowlers' efforts by a dismal show. But for Kumar Sangakkara's brilliant innings, the Test Match could have well got over in the two days. The second and last Test Match of the Series is at Wellington on the 22nd, it looks very difficult for the Sri Lankan batsmen to come good in so little time on the seaming wickets.

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