Hamilton: New Zealand finished at 232 for 9 on Day Two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in the ongoing 2-match Test series. New Zealand still trail the visitors by 60 runs with one wicket to spare and three days left in the match.
Doug Bracewell was on 30 at stumps of Day Two with Neil Wagner getting dismissed on the very last ball of the day. It was a five-wicket haul for Dushmantha Chameera with Wagner becoming the fifth victim. Wagner found some room towards the off side as he went for a big hit and found Vithanage at the cover who made no mistake to push New Zealand struggling at the end of Day Two.
New Zealand lost a chunk of wickets towards the end of the day. After the dismissal of Mitchell Santner, BJ Watling and Tim Southee quickly followed him back to the pavilion. Watling added another 28 runs with Bracewell before the former was dismissed leaving New Zealand at 196 for 7.
However, he hit his “mandatory” boundary before giving a catch to Jayasundera in the 73rd over. Short balls have been doing the trick for Sri Lanka. Southee joined the other batsmen who were dismissed against a short ball. He moved way outside the off side, pulled a shot but managed a top edge that went into the safe hands of Jayasundera who brilliantly caught it at fine leg.
Earlier in the final session, Mitchell Santner was dismissed after putting on an excellent fight for 105 deliveries. A fuller length ball from Nuwan Pradeep did the trick for the Lankans.
Santner only managed a thick outside edge that went straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal but that did not convince the on-field umpire. Sri Lanka went on to the third umpire who checked the hot spot showing the outside edge from Santner’s bat. The 23-year-old’s fighting innings lasted only 105 balls where he contributed with 38 runs.
Sri Lanka were earlier bowled out for 292. Angelo Mathews top-scored for the visitors with 77. Milinda Siriwardana made 62. Tim Southee was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with three wickets.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka - 292 (Mathews 77, Siriwardana 62, Southee 3-63)
New Zealand - 232 for 9 (Guptill 50, Chameera 5-47)
Status - New Zealand trail by 60 runs