Sri Lanka reached 113-2 of their 2d innings at stumps on day 3 however nonetheless trailed through 303 runs at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.
They wanted a large turnaround to steer clear of defeat after being skittled out for 164 of their first innings in keeping with the Black Caps’ 580-4 declared.
The deficit 303 on the shut of play on Day 3 with Sri Lanka forged to start out their 2d innings on the Basin Reser… https://t.co/6WxdBVpnOI
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) 1679204044000
Starting off with a deficit of 416 runs, they confirmed extra combat of their 2d flip at bat.
captain Dimuth Karunaratne posted his 2d half-century of the day earlier than being brushed aside through counterpart Tim Southee for 51, stuck within the deep after fellow-opener Osada Fernando have been got rid of cost effectively.
Kusal Mendis was once on the crease on 50 and Angelo Mathews unbeaten on one off 40 balls, with the pair seeing off the closing 11.5 overs in stoic style.
A marathon combat to save lots of the Test nonetheless awaits the guests, whose slender hope of successful to sq. the two-match sequence was once successfully ended through a slew of rash photographs which derailed their first innings.
Sri Lanka’s tail succumbed hastily all the way through a chaotic 2d consultation, with the closing six wickets tumbling for fifty runs within the house of 15.1 overs regardless of the wicket enjoying slightly true.
Only 3 batters reached double figures within the first innings, together with Karunaratne, who was once the 9th guy out for 89.
The gritty opener had gave the look to be digging the guests out of a deep hollow when he and Dinesh Chandimal placed on 80 for the 5th wicket after the lack of two wickets within the day’s opening 30 minutes decreased them to 34-4.
However, Chandimal was once stumped for 34 off. Michael Bracewell after charging down the observe quickly after tea, sparking the droop.
Offspinner Bracewell then got rid of Dhananjay de Silva in his subsequent over and later brushed aside Karunaratne when he hit out, to complete with 3-50.
seamer matt henry claimed 3-44, together with wicket-keeper Nishan Madushkawho scored 19 on his Test debut.
Kasun Rajitha was once run out Asitha Fernando was once the closing wicket to fall, each for geese, finishing Sri Lanka’s sixth-lowest innings general on New Zealand soil.
Black Caps captain Southee had no hesitation asking his fighters to bat once more, although that tactic backfired lower than a month in the past when England enforced the follow-on halfway via the second one Test in opposition to the Black Caps on the Basin Reserve.
New Zealand went directly to win that tournament, turning into simply the fourth crew in Tests to succeed after following-on.
The Black Caps are chasing their 3rd Test victory in a row, following their dramatic two-wicket win over Sri Lanka within the first Test at Christchurch, which was once sealed at the ultimate ball.
(With company inputs)
