Southee soars on return

Dec 15, 2018

Sri Lanka's openers took the field under overcast conditions•Getty Images

That included the wicket of Kusal Mendis, who flicked an innocuous delivery straight into the hands of midwicket•Getty Images

He took toll of the reprieve and put on a century stand with Mathews•Getty Images

But Niroshan Dickwella led a superb rearguard effort around the lower order and stayed unbeaten on 73•AFP

Tim Southee, left out of two Tests in the UAE, made use of those conditions to rip through Sri Lanka's top order•Getty Images

Angelo Mathews' experience came to the fore as he negotiated Southee's swing and repaired the early damage•Getty Images

The Basin Reserve's grassbanks were populated by a sizable Saturday crowd•Getty Images

Dimuth Karunaratne was let off by a no-ball from Colin de Grandhomme•Getty Images

Henry Nicholls took a brilliant catch, running back from short leg, to send back Suranga Lakmal•Getty Images