Dhananjaya de Silva made a fighting knock of 98 in 185 balls with 12 fours and a six but it was in vain as New Zealand recorded an innings and 58 runs win with a day to spare in the second test to win the series 2-0 played at Wellington yesterday.
Sri Lanka following on played much better than first innings which was limited to 164 runs in 66.5 overs but they couldn't escape defeat with a day to spare. In fact the weather forecast of Wellington predicted there might be rain interruption on Tuesday for the game but New Zealand bowlers won the battle with Sri Lanka all out in 358 in 142 overs.
The game went on until the final thirty minutes of the final session on the fourth day yesterday , and a marathon 142 overs in the field - over 200 if you count the overs in the first innings Sri Lanka followed on - but New Zealand eventually broke through Sri Lanka's defiant rearguard to secure a great victory in the second Test double centurion Henry Nicholls was named player of the match while experienced Kane Williamson who was the architect of both winning matches with a fighting century followed by a good double century was adjudged player of the series. a
Earlier the day started with overnight batter Kusal Mendis who made a complied half century and soon after was out off the bowling of Matt Henry. Mendis stroked his fifty in 106 balls with 8 fours and he tried to pull and Kane Williamson took an easy catch at short mid wicket and that was vital wicket for Kiwis early in the morning.
Experienced Angelo Matthews who failed in the first innings once again flopped and back in the pavilion scoring only 2 runs in 44 balls and Blair Tickner took his wicket when Doug Bracewell took a catch at square leg to dismiss Matthews.
Dhananjaya de Silva the middle order all rounder and former Skipper Dinesh Chandimal tried to repair the innings while Dhananjaya had looked the more susceptible to collect runs while Chandimal who thrown away his wicket in the first innings played more confidence to reach his fifty but later Chandimal top-edged a short one to fine leg just two minutes before lunch and Kiwis were jubilant as Chandimal departed as he was in a hurry and it took the top edge of the bat and went up and Doug Bracewell took a catch.
Dhananjaya was unmoved to continue his innings while debutant Nishan Madushka and Dhananjaya defied expectations with some sensible batting
How ever with the New Zealand bowlers gradually tiring and the wind picking up in force, the pair were able to navigate the short stuff, punish anything full and rotated the strike with relative ease.The pair added 76 runs for the sixth wicket but Madushka was finally out scoring 39 on 93 balls with 4 fours and six caught by Tim Southee at mid wicket off the bowling of Tickner and Sri Lankan team was disappointing after this partnership. Dhananjaya the only hope of the Sri Lanka team was close to his century just two runs away when he tried to paddle scoop over the shoulder and Nicholls took a catch at short leg and the his wicket was taken by off spinner Michael Bracewell and New Zealanders celebrated the last Sri Lankan recognised batsmans wicket. The paceman Kasun Rajitha played a fighting innings scoring 20 in 110 balls with a four but tailenders couldn't give support and Sri Lanka were all out 358 to give Kiwis an innings and 58 run victory . Skipper Tim Southee and Blair Tickner took bowling honours taking three wickets each to restrict Sri Lanka innings.
After the two test match series Sri Lanka will meet New Zealand in their first ODI of the three match series on March 25 in Auckland.