Black Caps Edge Ahead In First Test

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New Zealand inched one run ahead of Sri Lanka's meagre first inning total of 154 for the loss of four more wickets.

New Zealand inched one run ahead of Sri Lanka's meagre first inning total of 154 for the loss of four more wickets during the morning session on day two of the First Test in Christchurch.
With Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas picking up two wickets each, the black caps were reduced to 113 for six before Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori shared an unbeaten seventh wicket stand of 42 to take the home side to 155 for six at lunch.
Resuming on an overnight score of 85 for two, Craig Cumming and Fleming added only 21 runs in the first 13 overs of the day before four wickets tumbled for seven runs.
Muralitharan struck twice in five balls, bowling Cumming for 43 when the New Zealand opener attempted to force a delivery by the spinner through the leg side but missed and saw the ball go through his legs and hit his stumps.
Nathan Astle survived an lbw appeal but Muralitharan got him on the next ball when the ball struck his pads plumb in front.
Vaas then removed Jacob Oram for one when the Kiwi batsman clipped a shot to Chamara Silva at short midwicket and Brendon McCullum followed for a duck three balls later after dragging the ball onto his stumps.
Having seen the wickets tumble at the other end, Fleming managed to steady things with Vettori after that torrid spell as New Zealand edged ahead of the Sri Lankan total.

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