Guptill celebrates after scoring his third Test century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill has been under heavy criticism as of late, but he silenced his critics with a superb 156 to put his side in a commanding position against Sri Lanka on the first day of the first Test in Dunedin.
Guptill was well supported by batsman Kane Williamson, who scored 88, and captain Brendon McCullum, who smashed a quickfire 75.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews would have been brooding over his decision to bowl first as Guptill and Tom Latham got New Zealand off to a solid start with a 56-run partnership before Latham was caught and bowled by Suranga Lakmal for 22.
Guptill and Williamson kept the runs flowing with a 173-run stand, during which Guptill brought up his third Test century and Williamson his half-century, before Williamson was caught by Dimuth Karunaratne at slip off the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep.
Williamson’s excellent knock of 88 came off 123 balls and included 12 boundaries.
Williamson made his 17th Test fifty
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Ross Taylor was dismissed shortly after for eight before Guptill and McCullum stabilised the innings with an 89-run partnership, during which McCullum registered his half-century, before he was caught by Kithruwan Vithanage at deep square leg off the bowling of Milinda Siriwardana.
McCullum’s entertaining innings of 75 came off 57 deliveries and included 13 boundaries and a six.
McCullum hammered 13 boundaries and a six during his knock of 75
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Following McCullum’s dismissal, New Zealand began to collapse as Mitchell Santner and BJ Watling were both removed cheaply before Guptill was caught behind off the bowling of Mathews.
Guptill’s superb knock of 156 came off 234 balls and included 21 boundaries.
Tim Southee was back in the pavilion just a few overs later before Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner amassed an unbeaten 10-run stand prior to stumps being called.
Bracewell finished on 32 off 39 balls, which included five boundaries, while Wagner has yet to get off the mark.
Lakmal, Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera picked up two wickets apiece, while Mathews and Siriwardana claimed one wicket each.
New Zealand ended day one on 409/8 and will continue batting on Friday at 10:30 local time or 21:30 GMT (Previous day).