http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 v New Zealand – New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka (2nd Test) – Match Recap– New Zealand level series with 167-run win
Aided by some stellar batting performances, and the incisive assaults of seamers Tim Southee and Trent Boult, New Zealand went on to level their Test series against Sri Lanka by securing a massive 167-run win in the second and final match, played at the P Sara Oval in Colombo from November 25 to 29.
After having received a severe drubbing at the hands of their hosts during the first Test at Galle, the visitors went on to display extraordinary resolve, and maintained a firm upper-hand throughout the second match in Colombo.
Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, the team went on to register a remarkable batting performance, driven by twin tons from skipper and Player of the Match http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HMRKB-Herath-c1559 (49-10-103-6) managed to limit them to 412 in their first innings.
The Black Caps’ recovered swiftly from Herath’s assault, and maintained their aggressive stance during the host team’s first innings. The Kiwis’ attack was driven by seamers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 (4) – were all removed easily.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TT-Samaraweera-c2712 (76), and Suraj Randiv (39) managed to make some sizeable contributions, and the team ended up working their way up to 244 before they were bowled by the Kiwis.
New Zealand’s second innings did not feature any remarkable performances, with skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 a 363-run chase.
Southee (20-5-58-3) and Boult (17.5-6-33-3) once again proved to be the undoing of the host team, and were joined this time around by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Doug-Bracewell-c1394 (13-6-13-2). Once again, the Lankans failed to face up to the visitors’ bowling attack, with only five batsmen managing to progress into double figures.
Dilshan (14) and Sangakkara (16) were unable to apply themselves at the crease for long, and for a while, the team’s hopes hinged entirely on the valiant Mathews (84). He remained fixed at the crease while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HAPW-Jayawardene-c1529 (29) and Kulasekara (18) came and went.
However, Sri Lanka’s hopes of sticking it out until the end of play to make it a draw were dashed with Mathews’ dismissal at the hands of Boult. The home team found themselves cut off, all out, at 195, with New Zealand going on to claim a comprehensive 167-run win.
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