New Zealand vs Sri Lanka first test

Herath five for gives SL control 

Herath's five for gave Sri Lanka control of day 1 in Galle.

New Zealand's performance was nothing to die for as their batting collapsed and was only able to post a first innings score of 221.New Zealand had won the toss and with bright sunny skies and a good batting track,they failed to capitalise on those conditions.Their difficulties against spin was prominent and apart from half centuries from Mcullum and Flynn all other batsmen failed to post anything substantial.Lack of patience from the batsman and probing bowling induced mistakes that make day 1 of the first test all Sri Lanka's. 

Rangana Herath was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler,claiming 5 wickets.The turn on offer wasn't alarming but still significant for a first-day pitch, and McCullum's dismissal together with spin from both ends brought about a stagnation in New Zealand's innings that had been moving fluently until then. The next 13 overs yielded just 12 runs as well as the wicket of James Franklin, who was trapped in front by Herath. Flynn had occupied one end safely but his patience deserted him at the stroke of tea, when he chased a wide one from Herath to nick a catch to the wicketkeeper.

New Zealand have a long, inexperienced lower order whose ability to resist has not inspired much hope in recent times, but the last four wickets did put together 66 runs today. Doug Bracwell was caught at slip off a Herath delivery that kicked from a good length, and Kruger van Wyk, after working hard to get to 28, misjudged the length while trying to sweep and gave Herath his fifth wicket.

New Zealand got some encouragement with the early dismissal of the nervous debutant, Dimuth Karunaratne, who was lbw to an inswinger from Southee. The new ball swung around, came perilously close to the outside edge and promised more anxious moments for the Sri Lanka batsmen in the early part of the second innings. But that was a small victory for New Zealand on a day they won a good toss, only to finish with a below-par total.