England have not won a Test series in New Zealand since 2007-08 but they are surely within sight of breaking that drought after a day of utter dominance at Basin Reserve. It was littered with landmarks and milestones: Gus Atkinson’s hat-trick, Jacob Bethell’s  highest first-class score, Joe Root reaching 50 in a Test innings for the 100th time. With three days left in the game, New Zealand already face being set a record fourth-innings chase.

Having wrestled their way into the ascendency on a topsy-turvy opening day, they pinned New Zealand to the canvas from the outset. Atkinson and Brydon Carse utilised what juice remained in the pitch to blow through the last five New Zealand wickets, securing a 155-run lead on first innings. Bethell and Ben Duckett then thrashed 187 runs in partnership to put England in a seemingly impregnable position just five sessions into the Test.

Bethell’s contribution was bittersweet, as he fell four runs short of a first hundred in any format. He nevertheless confirmed the range of his talent, in his second Test and batting at No. 3 for only the fourth time. He drove the scoreboard on after Zak Crawley had fallen in the second over – dismissed by Matt Henry for the fourth innings in succession – and outscored his partner during a free-flowing stand that went at more than 5 an over.

Nathan Smith bore the brunt of their initial onslaught, Bethell twice hooking him into the crowd and also proving strong on the drive. He survived when slashing Smith between keeper and slip, with Daryl Mitchell stood wide, on the way to a 52-ball half-century, and was not afraid to chance his arm as the second-wicket pair cemented England’s position.

Only on entering the 90s for the second time in his first-class career, and having copped a blow from a Will O’Rourke short ball the over before, did Bethell betray signs of nerves. A skied pull off Tim Southee landed in no-man’s land, before he nearly chopped on next ball. Four dabbed through third took him within range of a memorable Test century only to be caught behind aiming an expansive drive.

England’s lead was already past 350 and although Duckett, who was dropped by Tom Blundell down the leg side on 22, also failed to convert after a busy innings ended with a deflection on to his stumps off Southee, there was no let up for the home side after tea as Root and Harry Brook added 95 in untroubled fashion. Brook brought up his sixth 50-plus score in seven Test innings against New Zealand, before holing out off the bowling of Glenn Phillips, while Root also bobbed along to another half-century and into ratified company.

After Ollie Pope fell cheaply, Ben Stokes strode out and threw the bat for another fifty partnership from just 39 balls, suggesting that a declaration may not be far away. While New Zealand have achieved some great escapes in recent memory, not least when the man who now coaches England, Brendon McCullum, helped them to amass 680 for 8 against India at this ground a decade ago, and their pitches have a habit of flattening out, there’s no doubt they were deep in the hole.

One measure of how the day had gone for New Zealand was that their five-man attack managed to bowl zero maidens. Another was that none of their remaining batters faced more than Phillips’ 16 balls as they were steamrollered during the morning session.

Atkinson took the plaudits, having become the first man to take a Test hat-trick at Basin Reserve. It was the latest accolade in a stunning start to the 26-year-old’s Test career, less than six months on from claiming a 12-wicket haul on debut. It made him the seventh player to record a ten-for, a hundred (achieved against Sri Lanka, in fifth appearance) and a hat-trick, and in only his 10th Test – well ahead of the next-quickest, Irfan Pathan (26 matches).

Both Atkinson and Carse claimed four-fors as New Zealand collapsed inside 45 minutes of the morning session. After Kane Williamson’s 37 on day one, no other New Zealand batter made it to 20.

Brief scores:

England 280 and 378 for 5 (Joe Root 73*, Ben Stokes 35*) lead New Zealand 125 (Gus Atkinson 4-31, Brydon Carse 4-46) by 533 runs

(Cricinfo)

Under 19 Division I Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

Dulsath Nimviru with a match bag of eight wickets and Vinod Danushka with a top score of 65 runs excelled for St. Aloysius’ College Galle as they beat Isipathana by six wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ tournament match at Karandeniya on Friday.

Nimviru picked up five wickets to restrict Isipatana to 146 runs in the second innings.

That left St. Aloysius’ with a target of 71 runs to chase. They sealed the victory in 19 overs.

In a bowler dominated match Vinod Danushka’s 65 runs in the first innings was the only half century.

The victory was St. Aloysius’ first outright win in four tournament matches.

Scores

Isipatana 84 all out in 32.4 overs (Ranmith Senarath 30; Dulsath Nimviru 3/22, Emalsha Pabasara 3/37, Kavindu Kesara 3/17) and 14 for 2 overnight 146 all out in 51.5 overs (Navindu Hettiarachchige 37, Chanul Dinoth 21, Maleesha Sandaruwan 41, Menula Sadev 20; Dulsath Nimviru 5/46, Kavindu Kesara 3/39, Oshada Devinda 2/32)

St. Aloysius’ 160 all out in 50.5 overs (Vinod Danushka 65, Tharuka Perera 36, Charya Paranavithana 29, Navidu Pramod 22; Dasith Senal 5/41, Thithira Sansira 3/09) and 71 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Deneth Dewminda 24; Menula Sadev 3/22)

Division I Tier ‘A’

Mahanama on first innings win at Mattegoda

Scores

St. Anthony’s Katugastota 208 all out in 66 overs (Kaushika Kumarasinghe 28, Anjana Dineth 22, Nedan Ebert 30, Januka Rathnayake 25, Charuka Ekanayake 65; Anuka Wijewardhane 3/78, Sithum Vihanga 3/26, Gimantha Dissanayake 2/30) and 51 for 7 in 19 overs (Januka Rathnayake 24n.o.; Chamika Heenatigala 3/13, Geeth Sandaruwan 3/14)

Mahanama 25 for 2 overnight 210 all out in 81.3 overs (Dulneth Algawatte 19, Gimantha Dissanayake 29, Sithum Vihanga 69, Oshadha Mathugama 37, Thaviru Perera 29; Charuka Ekanayake 5/65, Imeth Rajapaksha 2/59)

Richmond restricted to 159 at Katunayake

Scores

Richmond 159 all out in 77.4 overs (Nikil Jayaweera 26, Shehan de Zoysa 56; Nushan Perera 4/64, Demion de Silva 6/58)

St. Joseph’s 44 for 2 in 20 overs (Kithmin de Silva 26n.o.)

After seven days of competition Sri Lanka is assured of at least one medal at the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand as 21-year-old Umayanga Mihiran advanced to the semifinals in the flyweight (51kg) category on Friday.

In a composed and masterful performance, Mihiran outpointed Malaysia’s Muhammad Abdul Qayyum in the quarterfinals, becoming the island nation’s sole medal contender. Both fighters entered the bout fresh after receiving byes in the previous round, but it was Mihiran’s skill, precision, and tactical superiority that made the difference according to boxing experts.

Mihiran opened cautiously, using his precision left jabs to control the distance in the first round. As the fight progressed, he increased the tempo, showcasing a full arsenal of punches, including sharp uppercuts and hooks, while displaying excellent lateral movement to evade Qayyum’s attacks.

The Malaysian attempted to disrupt Mihiran’s rhythm, but the Sri Lankan pugilist remained unflappable, shifting seamlessly between leading the exchanges and counter-punching. Despite one judge scoring all three rounds in favour of Qayyum, Mihiran’s dominance was evident as he displayed ring control and discipline throughout the bout.

Mihiran will face Asilbek Jalilov of Uzbekistan, the reigning ASBC Asian Under 22 champion, in the semifinals on Sunday (December 8). Jalilov comes off a hard-fought win over the 2021 World Champion, Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossynov, following a bout review. The Uzbek fighter, with an impressive record that includes medals from major competitions, will undoubtedly pose a stern challenge for the young Sri Lankan.

Sri Lanka’s other quarterfinalists, Nuwan Jinadasa and Ravindu Kumara, were unable to advance, suffering technical knockouts in their respective bouts.

[RF]