New Zealand Claim ANZ Series against Sri Lanka

Hamilton: New Zealand comfortably rode to a swift five-wicket win over visitors Sri Lanka on Day 4 in second and final Test of the series at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Monday, thus winning the series 2-0 and registering a whitewash.

Kane Williamson, who scored an unbeaten 78 was the star of the second innings, while Tim Southee played a crucial role with the ball, claiming seven wickets in the match. With this win New Zealand have regained their confidence back following a 2-1 loss at the hands of Australia, earlier this month, as both the teams now prepare for the upcoming five-match ODI series.

Earlier, Sri Lanka began the match with the bat after losing the toss, and played an average innings of 292, following which New Zealand were bowled out for 237, thus handing Sri Lanka a slender 55-run lead.

However, the second innings saw a total collapse of the Sri Lankan side, with the side getting bowled out for mere 133, thus giving the Kiwis a target of 189 to win.

New Zealand in persuit of the target on Day 3 lost five wickets as they resumed the innings on Day 4 with an overnight score of 142, with just 47 runs more required to win, as Williamson and BJ Watling resumed the innings.

Both the batsmen batted steadily through out the innings, while Williamson scored his 13 Test ton, that came off 12 boundaries and a six, while he also finished gthe year 2015 as the top run scorer in Test cricket, with 2,633 runs. Both the batsmen were able to seet the game off as they eventually registered a comfortable five-wicket win over Sri Lanka and seal the series with a 2-0 whitewash, while Williamson was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Brief scores
Sri Lanka - 292 (Mathews 77, Siriwardana 62, Southee 3-63) and 133 (Southee 4-26, Wagner 3-40)
New Zealand - 237 (Guptill 50, Chameera 5-47) and 189/5 (Williamson 108*, Chameera 4-68)
Result - New Zealand won by 5 wickets
MOM - Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan - 3rd ODI 3rd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan - December 22, 12:00 GMT 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs 2nd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan at Cape Town Pakistan won by 81 runs

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