NZ nears series sweep after pushing episode through

New Zealand edged to the brink of a 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka on the third day of the second Test, sacking the Tourists for 164 and reducing them to 2-113 after enforcing the follow-up.

After Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls scored double centuries on day two as the hosts scored 4(dec)-580, it was the New Zealand bowlers turn to take center stage at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.

Starting the day 2-26 in their first innings, Sri Lanka lost 10 wickets over their three sessions to still be 303 runs down in their second innings.

Spinners Michael Bracewell and Sear Matt Henry each won three wickets as the Sri Lankans were sacked in their first innings before the tea break.

Despite a struggling 89 from skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka lost six wickets on just 55 runs after lunch.

On the fifth day of the game, rain threatened. Blacks Caps skipper Tim Southee wasted no time sending Karunaratne and his opening partner Oshada Fernando straight back to face the home attack again.

Fernando faced 36 balls before leaving for five to give paceman Doug Bracewell, cousin of Michael, another wicket on his return to Test cricket after a gap of almost seven years.

Playing another captain’s innings, Karunaratne recorded a fourth half-century in his last five innings and forged a 71-second-wicket partnership with Kusal Mendis.

His New Zealand counterpart Southee separated them when Karunaratne pulled a shot into deep Midwicket on the 51st where Devon Conway made a fine catch into the sun.

Angelo Mathews joined Mendis and the pair survived until the crash. Mendis will not be down to 50 on Monday, with Mathews undefeated to one.

In a positive historic note for Sri Lanka, Mendis and Mathews both scored centuries as they battled together for two rain-splashed days to salvage a tie when the two teams last played a Test in Wellington five years ago.