New Zealand endured a tough day on the field during the second day of the Test match in Galle, with Sri Lanka piling on 296 runs for the loss of just two wickets. Despite trying different strategies and deploying seven bowlers, New Zealand was unable to make significant breakthroughs. The weather offered some respite with overcast conditions, but the Kiwis struggled to contain Sri Lanka’s batsmen on a pitch that became easier to bat on as the day progressed.
Challenges on Day Two
New Zealand’s bowling coach Luke Ronchi acknowledged the challenges faced by his side. He pointed out that the surface was quite different from the first Test, appearing drier and harder, which made it more favorable for batsmen. As the ball got older, it became more difficult to find opportunities for wickets. Ronchi praised the Sri Lankan batsmen for their performance, noting that four of them passed the fifty-run mark, capitalizing on the conditions.
“The surface is different… Once the batters are in, it’s a nice surface. The ball gets that little bit older as well, and it makes it different,” Ronchi explained.
Missed Opportunities
While crediting the efforts of his bowlers, Ronchi lamented the missed chances on the field. Despite toiling hard and trying different tactics, New Zealand missed key opportunities to dismiss the Sri Lankan batters on day one. These misses proved costly, as Sri Lanka’s batsmen went on to build a commanding lead.
“I think if we look back, the guys would have preferred to have taken some of them but it’s just what happens. But there weren’t as many chances today as there were yesterday,” Ronchi said.
Focus Shifts to Batting
With New Zealand trailing by 580 runs and already losing two wickets in the final moments of play, the challenge for the batting lineup is immense. Galle has not been kind to New Zealand in the past, with their highest total at the venue being 340. Ronchi emphasized the need for the batsmen to apply themselves, similar to their approach in the first Test.
“Now, as a batting group, it’s making sure we can apply ourselves… It’s not about looking at an end-product type thing, but the processes and how we’re going to make the best of each ball, each moment, and each partnership,” Ronchi added.
Looking Ahead
With three days left in the match, Ronchi’s message to his team is to focus on batting for as long as possible and taking the game deep. He urged the players to stick to their processes and not think too far ahead, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and maintaining pressure on the bowlers.
“You just want to go out there and bat for as long as we can. There’s three days left, so we’ve got to make sure that we can bat well and sort of see what happens,” Ronchi concluded.
The focus for New Zealand now remains on building a resilient batting performance and weathering the storm in the remaining days of play against Sri Lanka.