Day 4: Another cloudy morning in Galle today with predictions of rain later on in the day. Only the weather Gods can probably save New Zealand from defeat in this Test match, after they conceded 602 runs in the first innings and then were bundled out for 88 when they came out to bat. Following on, they are currently at 199/5 with Blundell and Phillips have stitched an impressive partnership. But this duo and all the remaining NZ batters need to bat out a lot of time to save this Test match, and they have to do it on a deteriorating pitch against the spin of Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris. A tall ask for New Zealand, let’s see how they perform today morning…
16:29 Local Time, 10:59 GMT, 16:29 IST: And now Stumps has been taken officially. Once again Sri Lanka have bossed the day and they sit at the cusp of a massive win here against New Zealand. The visitors never really arrived in this Test match, as they were bundled out for 88 in the first innings, and that could have been a lot worse if not for Santner's late cameo of 29. Debutant Nishan Peiris picked three in the first innings, as Prabath Jayasuriya continued his Galle love affair with another fifer. New Zealand were asked to follow on, and while they have done marginally better in their second essay, this Test match still seems out of their reach now. Sri Lanka's fielding was super sharp in the second innings as Conway and Williamson were both sent packing after getting starts. The visitors started the post Tea session well, with Blundell and Phillips playing a few shots before bad light caused a premature end to the day. We'll be back tomorrow, and it will be a 945 AM Local Time start, 15 minutes ahead of usual.
16:27 Local Time, 10:57 GMT, 16:27 IST: The whole ground is under covers now. It isn't heavy rain but the groundsmen are just acting preemptively.
16:14 Local Time, 10:44 GMT, 16:14 IST: It has started to rain now and the ground is under covers. This could be the end of the day, folks! But for now, we wait for an official update.
15:40 Local Time, 10:10 GMT, 15:40 IST: It has gotten super gloomy in Galle and the umpires are actually taking the players off.
40.6
Nishan Peiris to Glenn Phillips, no run, on a length outside off, doesn't spin. Past the outside edge
40.5
Nishan Peiris to Glenn Phillips, SIX, full delivery outside off, Phillips hits it through the line and hoists it over long-off for a maximum!
40.4
Nishan Peiris to Glenn Phillips, no run, on a length outside off,
40.3
Nishan Peiris to Blundell, 1 run, tossed up delivery just outside off, Blundell dances out and glances it towards long-on
40.2
Nishan Peiris to Blundell, 2 runs, flighted up outside off, reverse swept past the first slip fielder for a couple of runs
40.1
Nishan Peiris to Blundell, FOUR, square of the wicket
39.6
Prabath Jayasuriya to Glenn Phillips, no run, slider onto leg stump, clipped to mid-wicket
39.5
Prabath Jayasuriya to Blundell, 1 run, to long-on
39.4
Prabath Jayasuriya to Glenn Phillips, 1 run, flighted up outside off, driven towards long-off
39.3
Prabath Jayasuriya to Glenn Phillips, no run, flighted outside off, driven to covers
39.2
Prabath Jayasuriya to Blundell, 1 run, on a length outside off, punched towards sweeper cover
39.1
Prabath Jayasuriya to Blundell, no run, fuller outside off, driven towards covers
38.6
Nishan Peiris to Glenn Phillips, no run
38.5
Nishan Peiris to Glenn Phillips, 2 runs, with the arm outside off, cut away towards deep backward point for a couple of runs
38.4
Nishan Peiris to Glenn Phillips, 2 runs, to backward square leg
Sri Lanka
New Zealand
