New Zealand claimed victory against Sri Lanka on Monday by an innings and 58 runs, securing a 2-0 test series despite a late fight back from the visitors. Sri Lanka only scored 164 in their first innings and were asked to follow after the Black Caps declared at 580 in Wellington. They were then knocked out for 358. Dhananjaya de Silva had started a fightback on Monday, enduring 3,000 Test runs before being caught on 98, missing a 10th Test century.
The New Zealand sailors had already smelled victory when they broke his 76 run partnership with debutant wicketkeeper Nishan Madushka, who was caught just before the tea break.
De Silva’s loss marked the end of the resistance – Sri Lanka lost their last three wickets for 40 runs as the tailenders were picked.
New Zealand skipper Tim Southee and sailor Blair Tickner caused the most damage with three wickets each.
After Sri Lanka resumed the day at 113-2, New Zealand’s pace attack offered no respite in Monday’s first over as Matt Henry’s delivery saw Kane Williamson overtake Kusal Mendis on 50.
The visitors threatened to fold shortly after at 116-4 when Angelo Mathews also walked with only two runs off 44 balls.
De Silva slowed New Zealand’s momentum in a partnership of 126 alongside Dinesh Chandimal in the first session, which ended with Tickner having caught Chandimal on 62 just before lunch.
De Silva maintained the resistance after the break by teaming up with Madushka, but their dismissal for no runs either side of the tea left Sri Lanka still 98 runs short.
New Zealand slowly turned the screw as Prabath Jayasuriya managed just two runs off 44 balls as he hit his shot to Tickner over the edge.
Kasun Rajitha took Sri Lanka past 350 runs with a four, lucky to get his shot past Michael Bracewell into the slips.
Bracewell made no mistake the second time with a diving catch to claim Lahiru Kumara’s wicket at Southee.
Asitha Fernando survived a review after the ball clipped his trousers instead of his leg pad, but New Zealand sealed victory when Rajitha was caught by the hosts’ top scorer Williamson with a double century in the first innings.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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