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Blackcaps seize advantage against Sri Lanka, despite Conway's alarming ongoing struggles
SENZ • September 20th, 2024 10:54 am
The Blackcaps put forth a strong day-two effort in Galle on Thursday to bring themselves right back into the contest in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
After Will O'Rourke's heroics - taking 5/55, his second five-wicket bag in just his fourth Test - to restrict the hosts to a first-innings total of 305, the New Zealanders charged to 255/4 at stumps.
Tom Latham's excellent knock of 70 anchored the top order for the tourists, backed up ably by Kane Williamson, who compiled a measured 55.
But amid the highlights was another poor outing for opener Devon Conway, whose struggles at the crease continue to plague him.
Never looking close to comfortable, Conway managed just 17 off 59 balls, as his form followed its alarming downward trend.
After storming onto the international stage, the past year has been lean for the left-hander.
In his last four tests - two apiece against Bangladesh and South Africa, Conway has totalled 94 runs at an average of just 11.75 - including a top score of 29.
He hasn't reached triple figures since January 2023 (Pakistan in Karachi), and has since averaged 23.13 from eight tests, featuring a high score of 78.
On Friday's edition of SENZ's Scotty & Izzy, co-hosts Scott Stevenson and Israel Dagg taken aback by the 2022 Wisden top-five cricketer of the year's peformance.
"Devon Conway was battling out there," said Stevenson.
"When you look through the strike rates in this Test match and the way that both teams have tried to play it, there was an almost morbid fascination in watching Conway just try to bat. It's a really interesting time for him right now.
"Conway plays well when he's loose. But he was more than loose, he was loosey goosey in that innings yesterday.
"I don't know where Devon Conway is at the moment, I really don't."
Dagg noted Conway had never looked settled throughout his knock, before being dispatched by a fairly regulation delivery that review revealed was a straightforward LBW.
But Conway aside, he believes it was a wholeheartedly positive day for New Zealand.
"He just looked a little bit uncomfortable," he said. "He had the helmet off, trying to go searching. You look at the pitch, I thought it would have been more difficult than that.
"But I thought the way that the Kiwis batted was outstanding."
Listen to the full discussion below:
