SL vs NZ | We expected the ball to turn when Ross and I came out to bat, claims Henry Nicholls

The first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Galle is shaping up to be a close affair as both the bowling departments are causing problems with the ball for opposition batsmen. In the first innings, it was Suranga Lakmal and Akila Dhananjaya who caused problems for the Kiwis as Henry Nicholls and Ross Taylor fought hard to keep the visitors in the game during a tough lunch session. 

Nicholls revealed that the World Cup runner-ups had anticipated the tough pitch conditions that awaited them at Galle and batted accordingly. 

"We know on these surfaces in the subcontinent when you do get a wicket sometimes it can turn into two or three. When Ross and I went out after lunch it was a case of keeping it simple and expecting that the ball was going to turn and beat the bat sometimes. It's just being comfortable with that. We did a nice job for a while there.

"Conditions were tough at times. The ball certainly spun a little earlier than we thought, but we expected it to be turning," Nicholls was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Galle pitches are known to deteriorate quickly, on account of the strong sea-breeze that blows across the ground. Nicholls further heaped praise on teammate Ross Taylor who ended the day at 86 not out off 131 balls.

"The game ebbed and flowed a bit through that middle session. Ross and I were able to score between 3.5 to 4 an over for a while there. We expect it to be like that - ebbing and flowing. When the ball's a bit harder and it's turning a bit sharper, it will be tougher. But when you bring the seamers back, while they bowled well at times, you were also able to score a bit faster.

"First-innings runs in this part of the world are massive. We're expecting it will get harder to bat on. It's nice that Ross is not out overnight and is batting so beautifully," Nicholls added.