From 1877 until World War One
Between the World Wars
Post War to the WSC Revolution
The Professional Era to the New Millennium
The New Millennium and Beyond
Other Pages
Home Page
Article Archive
How the System Works
Frequently Asked Questions
Statistical Points of Interest
Current and Future Series Predictions
Links
Site Map
Contact Us
Get Free e-mail ratings updates
NZ win 2 - 0 NZ gains 15 points; SL loses 15 points
Draw 1 - 1 NZ gains 0 points; SL loses 0 points
Sl win 2 - 0 SL gains 15 points; NZ loses 15 points
Colombo
25 - 29 April 2003
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first.� Sri Lanka was only able to dismiss Horne (4) during the first session, however, the home side was able to close down the New Zealanders scoring opportunities and limited the score to 1 for 66 at lunch.� The scoring rate increased after lunch as Sri Lanka missed their chances and was unable to capitalise.� New Zealand went to tea without loss of further wickets at 1 for 131.� Fleming passed his fifth Test century before Sri Lanka broke through in the final hour of play and dismissed Richardson (85) at 2 for 192.� However by stumps, New Zealand was firmly in control with the score 2 for 207.
The second morning proceeded similarly to the first - dropped chances allowing the New Zealanders to increase their advantage.� Sri Lanka's only success of the morning was to catch Sinclair (17) in the tenth over of the day.� New Zealand then batted slowly on to be 3 for 288 at lunch.� Fleming posted his first Test double century after lunch before Styris (63) was caught shortly before New Zealand went to tea at 4 for 396.� New Zealand lost Oram (33), Hart (9) and Vettori (7) before declaring at 7 for 515 leaving Fleming not out on 274, the second highest Test score by a New Zealander.� Dharmasena was the most successful bowler with 3 for 132 off 40 overs.� In the two overs remaining before bad light stopped play, Sri Lanka lost Atapattu (0) to end the day at 1 for 4.
New Zealand struck early by dismissing night watchman Vaas (4) in the fourth over of the third morning.� However, with a couple of dropped catches, that was the only wicket to fall before Sri Lanka went to lunch at 2 for 114. New Zealand struck twice just after lunch to dismiss Jayasuriya (50) and Sangakkara (67) to have Sri Lanka 4 for 134, still 182 runs short of the follow on target.� Sri Lanka then consolidated and batted through the afternoon without further loss of wickets.� When rain stopped play for the day after tea, Sri Lanka was 4 for 367, needing only 49 more runs to avoid the follow on and a draw looming as the most likely result.
New Zealand needed quick wickets on the fourth morning to have any hope of forcing a result.� The tourist's hopes rose when Jayawardene (58) was out in the first over, however, Sri Lanka then smashed their way past the follow on target before Kaluwitharana (76) was out half an hour before lunch at 6 for 374.� At lunch, Tillakaratne had passed his eleventh Test century and Sri Lanka was 6 for 385.� New Zealand saw the chace of victory disappear during the afternoon when they were unable to take further wickets and then rain set in soon after tea.� Sri Lanka ended the day at 6 for 424 with no hope of any result other than a draw with out a pair of sporting declarations.
New Zealand bowled Tillakaratne (144) early on the final morning and then mid way through the session, Vettori dismissed Dharmasena (31), Nissanka (0) and Muralitharan (0) in the space of five balls to have Sri Lanka all out for 483.� Bond (3 for 97 off 28 overs) and Vettori (3 for 94 off 33 overs) shared the bowling honours while Lokuarachchi (28*) was the not out batsman.� New Zealand then added to their 32 run first innings lead by batting through to lunch to be 35 without loss of wickets.� Sri Lanka dismissed Sinclair (1) and Styris (16) during the afternoon session as New Zealand then went on to be 3 for 112 at tea.� During the final session, Sri Lanka dismissed Oram (19) and Hart (0).� However, when stumps were drawn, New Zealand was 5 for 161 after Muralitharan had taken 3 for 41 off 30 overs and the match declared a draw.
Second Test
Kandy
03 - 07 May 2003
Rain and a wet outfield prevented any play until after tea on the second day.� New Zealand eventually won the toss and elected to bat first.� Sri Lanka made an excellent start by dismissing Horne (1), Fleming (0) and Sinclair (3) to have New Zealand 3 for 11.� New Zealand then began to stabilise the innings, however, shortly before bad light stopped play, Styris (32) was dismissed.� At stumps, New Zealand was 4 for 75 with Sri Lanka in ascendancy.
New Zealand began to claw their way back into the match on the second morning.� Sri Lanka's only breakthrough was the wicket of Richardson (55) at 5 for 109 while the tourists took the score to 5 for 171 at lunch.� Sri Lanka was able to wind up the innings shortly before tea after dismissing Hart (31), Oram (74), Wiseman (7), Tuffey (15) and Vettori (55).� New Zealand was all out for a respectable 305 runs while Muralitharan was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 90 off 34 overs.� Sri Lanka began their reply after tea and lost Sangakkara (10) and Jayawardene (15) before ending the day at 2 for 94.
Sri Lanka batted steadily through the fourth morning until Jayasuriya (82) was dismissed at 3 for 126.� New Zealand then dismissed Kaluwitharana (20) and Dharmasena (5) before Sri Lanka went to lunch at 5 for 195.� Similar to the previous day, New Zealand wound up the Sri Lankan innings shortly before tea for 298 runs after dismissing Lokuarachchi (20), Vaas (22), Nissanka (6) and Tillakaratne (93) while Atapattu (2*) retired hurt following a collision with Vettori the previous day.� Wiseman was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 104 off 32.3 overs.� New Zealand set about adding to their seven run first innings lead after tea and lost Horne (27) on the way to ending the day at 1 for 92 with no result other than a draw likely.
Despite the odds, Sri Lanka tore through the New Zealanders on the final morning and dismissed Richardson (55), Sinclair (0), Styris (1), Fleming (33), Oram (16) and Vettori (0) to have New Zealand 7 for 144 at lunch.� The tourist's tail enders then stabilised the innings and occupied the crease until being all out at tea for 183 runs after Hart (12), Tuffey (1), and Wiseman (29) were dismissed.� Muralitharan was again the best of the bowlers with 5 for 49 off 39, including his 450th Test wicket.� Sri Lanka was set an unlikely 191 off the remaining 38 overs for victory.� However, after losing Jayasuriya (9) in the fourth over, Sri Lanka did not go after the runs and when the match was declared a draw, Sri Lanka was 1 for 72.
