UNDATED : Sri Lanka openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva safely guided their side to 84 without loss in their second innings at the close of play on the second day of the first test against New Zealand today after being forced to follow-on.
Karunaratne was on 49, while Silva was 33 not out in Sri Lanka’s second innings at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, still 219 runs from making New Zealand bat again. The visitors had capitulated for 138 in their first innings as New Zealand’s pace attack tore through their lineup by pitching the ball up and allowing it to swing. They also built pressure at both ends, bowling tight lines that forced several of the Sri Lankan lower order batsmen to attempt loose shots that ended in their dismissal. Opening bowler Trent Boult had reduced the visitors to 15 for three in the morning session before Tim Southee removed Lahiru Thirimanne and Niroshan Dickwella in the same over to send them tumbling to 60 for five after lunch. Neil Wagner then ran through the tail with three wickets, with Jimmy Neesham taking the other two as the hosts dismissed Sri Lanka just after the umpires had delayed the tea break and extended the afternoon session by 30 minutes. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum immediately enforced the follow on.
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews provided some first innings resistance with the lower order to bring up his 19th test half century with a six but threw his wicket away two balls later attempting to hit another. Sri Lanka had bowled New Zealand out for 441 inside the first 30 minutes of play after they had resumed on 429 for seven, with Suranga Lakmal taking two wickets in the same over to end the innings.
(AGENCIES)
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