Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2015-16

Scorecard - 2nd Test, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka at Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand (17 Dec 2015)

Sri Lanka

292/10 (80.1) RR:3.64

133/10 (36.3) RR:3.64

New Zealand won by 5 wkts

MOM: Kane Williamson

New Zealand

237/10 (79.4) RR:2.97

189/5 (54.3) RR:3.47

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72.2 - Boult to Mathews, FOUR, shot! Dismissive nonchalance stuff from Mathews! Short and sat up nicely outside off, Mathews rocks back and spanks the pull through mid-wicket, raced away in a jiffy

71.2 - Southee to Dushmantha Chameera, leg byes, FOUR, poor stuff from Southee! He sprays this one down leg, Chameera fails to tickle fine and gets it off the thigh pad. Watling pulls off a desperate dive to his left but to no avail

68.0 - Southee to Mathews, FOUR, Southee errs in line yet again. Short and drifting onto the pads, Mathews hangs back and flicks uppishly over non-existent short fine to claim his first boundary of the day

63.3 - Doug Bracewell to Siriwardana, FOUR, this is horrible from the Kiwis. More so because you won the toss on a demon-looking pitch. This one's a full toss. A poor ball at Nagpur or Hamilton. Siriwardana gleefully flicks it to the fine leg fence

62.5 - Boult to Siriwardana, FOUR, and this boundary breaches the 250 mark. Something that looked impossible when Mathews lost the toss. Coming to the delivery, it was full and wide. Siriwardana leaned into the shot and sliced the drive to place it through point

59.1 - Doug Bracewell to Siriwardana, FOUR, straight bat, played it underneath his eyes, stretched his hands and timed the push-drive through vacant mid-off. Everything right to get to the second half-century of your career

56.0 - Doug Bracewell to Mathews, FOUR, this is lovely. The intent. And the sun-baked outfield is giving now. Not quite off the middle, more off the outside half but a good enough wood and tailor-esque placement through cover ensured four runs

53.0 - Mitchell Santner to Mathews, FOUR, poor delivery to end the over. Sliding down leg - All Mathews needed to do was to get some bat on that. He does so with a well-timed flick and earns a boundary through short fine leg

51.0 - Boult to Mathews, FOUR, short and asking to be slapped. Wide of off and Mathews puts it away, with nonchalant timing off the back foot, cut shot through cover

50.1 - Boult to Mathews, leg byes, FOUR, wayward stuff from Boult. Swinging down the leg-side, Mathews was late on the attempted flick. Ball strikes the pad and races away to the fine leg fence

49.5 - Southee to Siriwardana, FOUR, jeez! That's a classy stroke. This bloke certainly has the mettle to play Test match cricket. Watches the ball closely and times the drive past mid-off to perfection, no need to run for those. Also brings up the 50-run stand

45.4 - Wagner to Mathews, FOUR, please hit-me ball from Wagner. Short and wide. Mathews pounces on it with a crunching cut through cover, he is a classy player and won't miss out on those

40.2 - Boult to Siriwardana, FOUR, in the airrrrrr, oh that's an acrobatic dive from Baz. Is he made of elastic? Fullish and just outside off stump, Siriwardana drives, gets it on the outside half of the bat, flies over cover, McCullum runs to his right and then dives, was horizontal to the ground when the ball passed him, but it evaded him

39.1 - Wagner to Mathews, FOUR, bouncer with a man at leg slip, but Mathews takes on the challenge and pulls, fine leg is very square and he was not even in the picture

26.3 - Mitchell Santner to Chandimal, FOUR, ah, that's an early Christmas gift. Green pitch and the spinner dishes out width on a short delivery. Chandimal rocks back and cuts it through point for another boundary

25.5 - Doug Bracewell to Chandimal, FOUR, when BMac offers you gaps, Chandimal takes them. Another one with some width for Chandimal to free his arms. Sits low, stretches his arms and flays the drive to deep extra cover. In-the-loop shots played with recursive intent

24.5 - Wagner to Chandimal, FOUR, no outfield can stop that. Absolutely hammered. Pitched up. An invitation. Chandimal RSVP's with a kneel-down flashy drive through the covers. Stretched his hands and threaded the gap with all brute timing

20.4 - Boult to Udara Jayasundera, FOUR, another one off the sword. Banged in, perhaps more in frustration with the full bungers rendered toothless. Jayasundera swivels 180 degrees and pulls it convincingly towards fine leg. Deep point runs across and put in a dive but it's not good enough

20.0 - Doug Bracewell to Chandimal, FOUR, ah, the swagger! Acceptably full outside off, Chandimal throws his bat at it. Had the width to do that. The ball flew off the outside half and flew wide and over the crowded cordon to the deep backward point fence

19.4 - Doug Bracewell to Chandimal, FOUR, that's plain delicious. Doug Bracewell shortens his length a touch, gives Chandimal the chance to come forward and drive it on the up through cover. Another handsome four runs to the total

19.3 - Doug Bracewell to Chandimal, FOUR, you wait for that shot on a green top. Another full delivery that swings away a touch, crease-bound Chandimal just pushes it straight past the bowler for a creamy four runs

19.0 - Boult to Udara Jayasundera, FOUR, that's lovely. Bread-and-butter shot on this pitch. On the pads, Jayasundera times the flick with rolled wrists. Off she goes to the deep mid-wicket fence

15.5 - Southee to Chandimal, FOUR, streaky stuff! Chandimal hangs his bat in defence to this outswinger, ball catches the outside edge and dribbles in the gap between slip cordon and gully

15.1 - Southee to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, Mendis keeps ticking his runs column. No matter how they come but Mendis will take it. Full and outside off, Mendis drives and just like many of his previous drives, ekes a thick outside edge which flies past the point fielder

12.0 - Southee to Karunaratne, FOUR, full and swung away late, Karunaratne flashes hard on the drive. Outside edge flies well over a leaping fourth slip and into the third man fence

10.4 - Doug Bracewell to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, hurled into the pads on a fuller length. Any Test match opener will put that away on any given day. Mendis too does so with a well-timed flick through mid-wicket

8.5 - Boult to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, "That's the way you gotta play on this pitch" lauds Ian Smith on air. Yep! It looks like so. Mendis is taking the aggressive route. Stands still at the crease and hoicks across the line (through square leg) to claim his second boundary

5.1 - Southee to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, aggression from Mendis! Stand still and deliver - ala Sehwag style. He stays firm at the crease for a fullish delivery and lifts it over a leaping short cover, don't bother running for those

60.5 - Mitchell Santner to Mathews, SIX, he's in the mood. Spinner bowling in the third session and he's taking full toll of it. Gets out of his crease, gets to the pitch of the ball and plays a one-legged flick uppishly. So much so that the ball sails over long-on nonchalantly

57.2 - Doug Bracewell to Siriwardana, SIX, that mimicked slashing a tree. Spotted the short ball early, hung back to it and swatted it through square leg for a pancake-flat six

57.0 - Mitchell Santner to Mathews, SIX, what a way to get to the fifty! 23rd in Tests. Sees the invitation, uses his feet and Tiger Woods it straight over the bowler's head for a king-sized maximum

54.3 - Mitchell Santner to Siriwardana, SIX, oh my! What tea was served in the dressing room? Quicker through the air, Siriwardana shimmies and swings his arm like a golf player. Timed, wooded and the ball sails over the long-on ropes

43.1 - Wagner to Siriwardana, SIX, CTRL C + CTRL V of 41.1. Just that the batsman is different this time, but the outcome isn't. Dug in short, top-edge on the pull and straight into the stands

41.1 - Wagner to Mathews, SIX, the first six of the game! Not quite the way Mathews would have liked, but he won't mind one bit. Wagner continues to try the short ball tactic and this time he enticed the Lankan skipper into the pull stroke. Gets a thick top-edge which sails over the fine leg fence

80.1 - Doug Bracewell to Dushmantha Chameera, out Caught by Brendon McCullum!! That will be it! Sri Lanka fall 8 short of 300. A mark they would have loved to achieve this morning. But it wasn't to be. Coming to the final wicket: Full and drifting in around off, Chameera stays on the back foot and loft-drives in the air sans any feet movement. Ball kisses the toe-end and lobs straight down the throat of B-Mac at mid-off who accepts with alacrity. Dushmantha Chameera c Brendon McCullum b Doug Bracewell 4(46)

78.0 - Wagner to Lakmal, out Caught by Williamson!! Gone this time! Too good a delivery to Lakmal and he's picked the safest New Zealand fielder on the ground. Bouncer angled into the batsman. Lakmal hangs back and tries to fend off the back foot. Ball hits the shoulder of the bat and balloons straight to Kane Williamson at gully who takes the simplest of catches. Lakmal c Williamson b Wagner 4(17)

73.1 - Southee to Mathews, out Caught by Latham!! First wicket of the morning and it's that man again - Southee, the first one to claim a wicket on day 1 and 2. He gets the big fish too. Bowls this one on a good length and keeps it around the fourth stump channel. Draws Mathews forward invitingly. The Lankan skipper, with laden feet, pokes and feeds an outside edge to third slip. Latham dives low to his right and pouches a well-judged catch. Mathews c Latham b Southee 77(125) [4s-7 6s-3]

66.2 - Boult to Mathews, out Herath Run Out!! And Boult has opened the floodgates. Another one sent packing and Sri Lanka are undoing all the steely defenses and the sword-edged drives. Mathews open-batted the tap to point and charged off. Herath was slow to respond. Jogged his way to the other end and was found short by a rifle-throw from Williamson. Ran across from gully, right-handed the throw and hit the stumps at the striker's end. Herath run out (Williamson) 4(6)

64.5 - Boult to Kithuruwan Vithanage, out Caught by Brendon McCullum!! McCullum is a Superman when he's not the Kiwi captain. Sometimes he doubles up as both. Like now. Dived full length and grabbed it inches above the ground. Boult, hooping it around at Seddon Park now, dished one fuller. Vithanage wanted to wrist it towards mid-wicket, eked out a leading edge that was made heroic by McCullum at mid-off. Kithuruwan Vithanage c Brendon McCullum b Boult 0(3)

64.2 - Boult to Siriwardana, out Caught by Ross Taylor!! Stop the press. Kiwis eke out an edge and manage to hold on. Just managed to hold on. Taylor is mobbed and patted on his back for reverse-cupping that onto his chest. Boult had hurled this on a length outside off, Siriwardana hung his bat out to dry intending a mere poke at that. The ball swung away, caught the outside edge and lobbed tummy-high to Taylor who juggled before finally holding onto the catch at first slip. Siriwardana c Ross Taylor b Boult 62(81) [4s-5 6s-3]

34.2 - Doug Bracewell to Chandimal, out Caught by Watling!! Chandimal is not reviewing. Clear edge, although a small one. Not that great a delivery. Not much of swing or seam. Juicy full ball outside off stump, Chandimal, who has been playing his strokes since his arrival this morning was obviously not going to let that go through to the keeper. The fact that it wasn't very wide outside off stump tempted him to play the drive and he did. Can't say that the front foot didn't move, but just that luck didn't favour him and the thin edge went straight to the keeper. The only criticism can be that he went really hard at that. A promising innings has been cut short. Chandimal c Watling b Doug Bracewell 47(56) [4s-7]

31.4 - Southee to Chandimal, out Udara Jayasundera Run Out!! 1 run completed. Disaster for Sri Lanka. This stand, worth 71 runs, was doing a fine job, but miscommunication has cost them badly. Actually, "Yeah, yeah," was the call from Chandimal as soon he drove this full ball off the front foot through cover-point, Santner gave chase and got to the ball quickly, Jayasundera thought the second run was on, but on seeing Santner pick up the ball, Chandimal says no. Probably, Udara Jayasundera didn't hear the call. In fact the replay shows that Chandimal even put his arm up to stop his partner but Jayasundera didn't see it. He was almost halfway down the pitch, by the time he came back, Watling collected the throw which was very good considering that Santner was off balance while releasing the ball and whipped the bails off. Even a dive could not save him. Udara Jayasundera run out (Mitchell Santner/Watling) 26(54) [4s-2]

15.4 - Southee to Kusal Mendis, out Caught by Watling!! Southee strikes again! Sri Lankan openers are back in the hutch now. That's too good a delivery and 90 out of 100 times, any right-hander would nick that. Everything right about it - good length, in the corridor of uncertainty and to make matters worse for Mendis, it held its line and got good bounce too. He pushes forward with hard hands and outside edge is neatly snaffled by Watling (the wicket-keeper). Kusal Mendis c Watling b Southee 31(42) [4s-4]

13.4 - Southee to Karunaratne, out Caught by Watling!! Finally a wicket and guess what! It's Karunaratne, the best Sri Lankan batsman, who has to trudge back. Southee gets his rewards for bowling that consistent length to the left-hander. He pitched this one on a fuller length and got it to shape back in late. Created the angle and Karunaratne attempts a loose stroke. Goes for an away-from-the-body drive and gets a faint inside edge and Watling does the rest behind the stumps. Karunaratne c Watling b Southee 12(45) [4s-1]

46.1 - Boult to Mathews, 1 run, would have been close if there was a direct hit. Not again Sri Lanka! Mathews clipped this fullish delivery towards square leg and took off. The Gangly-Guptill was quick to get there and flings the ball at the bowler's end. Misses by a small margin and Mathews can breathe a sigh of relief

16.0 - Southee to Chandimal, no run, New Zealand lose 2 reviews inside 16 overs! How costly will that prove? Baz, after a brief conflab with his bowler, has gone up for the review but to no avail. Coming to the appeal: Good length that extracted healthy bounce off the surface, Chandimal deep inside the crease to defend that. Ball beats the outside edge and slams Chandimal on the back pad. Impact outside off and height was also an issue there

12.1 - Doug Bracewell to Kusal Mendis, 5 runs, ohh! Baz's aggression has cost 4 extra runs via the overthrow. Mendis attempts a tap-and-run single and Brendon, like a flash, at short cover gets to the ball quickly and has a shy at the bowler's end. Misses and Mendis survives. There's no one backing up and 5 runs added to Mendis and Sri Lanka's total

11.1 - Southee to Karunaratne, no run, this was on a good length and swinged in late to strike Karunaratne's back thigh. Southee and rest of the Kiwis scream in unison but bounce was the issue and umpire Paul Reiffel was spot on on that occasion

4.2 - Boult to Karunaratne, 1 run, push-and-run single from Karunaratne! He taps this full delivery in front of B-Mac at short cover and sprints off for a quick single. His partner would have been in trouble had the throw been accurate

79.1 - Pradeep to Doug Bracewell, FOUR, aaaaand the runs keep counting for Bracewell. First runs of the day courtesy an errant line from Pradeep which is awkwardly flicked down to fine leg

76.4 - Dushmantha Chameera to Wagner, FOUR, poor effort and that should tell you that the day's end is nigh. Another pull shot. Are you surprised? The ball flew low to the third man area. The fielder there ran to his right and attempted to get his body behind - with his hands cupped in front of his tummy. Lets the ball burst through and parries it through to the ropes

76.3 - Dushmantha Chameera to Wagner, FOUR, when you get a pitched up delivery in the middle of a full ball-drought, you come forward, close the bat face and time the punch through long-on

75.1 - Lakmal to Doug Bracewell, FOUR, that reminds me of Williamson. Bracewell waits for this back of a length delivery to come to him, opens the bat face very late and silks the slip-gully gap for a boundary

73.0 - Dushmantha Chameera to Doug Bracewell, FOUR, and he top-edges another pull. The fine leg fielder runs to his right and sticks out his right hand to haul it back in but the ball's momentum and late curve evaded that effort. At least there are four runs this time for a not-so-pretty effort

71.5 - Lakmal to Southee, FOUR, it's all happening at the Seddon Park. And what a way to bring up the 200 for New Zealand. With a top edge off an attempted pull to fine leg. Sums up the moment perfectly

71.0 - Dushmantha Chameera to Doug Bracewell, FOUR, edged and he gets lucky with a boundary! Went hard with his forceful uppish drive through cover, the ball moved away to take the outside edge and evaded a leaping gully to travel to the fence

68.0 - Herath to Watling, FOUR, tries to spin this off a length but the ball swerves across the batsman making the ball leg side-ish. Watling gets down with a huge front foot stride and plays a bottom hand-dominated sweep shot through backward square leg

66.2 - Pradeep to Doug Bracewell, FOUR, similar one on a shorter length and down the leg side. The room outside leg allows Bracewell the time to swivel and roll the wrists to time the pull to fine leg. Awkward bounce at the fielding position and the batsman gets a boundary

61.2 - Herath to Watling, FOUR, lovely shot, a little shimmy down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and lifts it over mid-off, one bounce and over the ropes for a boundary

54.5 - Lakmal to Mitchell Santner, FOUR, nicely done by Santner, banged in short and on the stumps, Santner swivels across, rolls his wrists around and pulls it behind square on the on-side, bisects the two men in the deep for a boundary

53.5 - Mathews to Watling, FOUR, cracking shot, not a bad delivery from Mathews, might have bene fraction too full, Watling gets forward, presents the full face of the bat and punches it past the diving mid-off fielder

52.4 - Lakmal to Watling, FOUR, edged and four, lucky for Watling, this was a short of a length delivery outside off, spat up on Watling, he was in no position to play that, ends up fending, gets it high off the bat. The ball loops in the gap between the second slip and gully, rolls away to the fence for a boundary

48.4 - Lakmal to Mitchell Santner, FOUR, lovely shot, overpitched and well outside off, Santner leans forward, meets the ball on top of the bounce and creams it through extra cover for a boundary

39.1 - Herath to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, flighted delivery on the off stump, McCullum advances and then flicks, wasn't to the pitch of the ball, hence he went for the loft over long-on, luckily there was no one in the deep at mid-wicket

37.2 - Herath to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, flighted delivery down the leg-side, McCullum gets down on one knee and sweeps it fine and fine leg was not even in the picture as he was very square

33.4 - Herath to Mitchell Santner, FOUR, a freebie from Sri Lanka after a long time. Short and outside off stump, Santner rocks back and cuts it hard through point. Brings up the 100 for New Zealand

21.2 - Herath to Latham, FOUR, fired down the leg-side at 93kph, Latham gets down on one knee and sweeps very fine, the fielder at fine leg, Lakmal it was, dived and flicked it back. Oh hang on. As Lakmal was flicking it back, his left hand was on contact with the ground beyond the rope

21.0 - Dushmantha Chameera to Guptill, FOUR, so that is 13 runs off Chameera's first over. Might not tell you the way he's actually bowled. Short and outside off stump, Guptill was hurried on the cut shot, but managed to time it to perfection through point

20.2 - Dushmantha Chameera to Guptill, FOUR, outside edge, but it goes along the ground and past the diving fielder at gully. Just a forward defence attempted, the ball took the outside half of the bat and raced away courtesy Chameera's extra pace

16.2 - Mathews to Guptill, FOUR, that was all timing. It was through Mathews before he could complete his followthrough. Just a timed push that raced wide of the bowler and to the long-on fence. Sight for the sore eyes. Watch that when you ill

14.4 - Mathews to Guptill, FOUR, that was dismissive! Fuller in length at modest pace, Guptill lets out a dance to the pitch of the ball and whacks it through the line. So much so that the rings are out to see if the ball is all right

11.4 - Pradeep to Guptill, FOUR, edged and through the slips. This one's pitched up and draws Guptill into the drive. Guptill obliges and attempts a flashy stroke. Outside edge dies down in front of first slip and races away to his left to offer Guptill a streaky boundary

10.3 - Lakmal to Latham, FOUR, too full and outside off, Latham drives punchily to the left of Herath at mid-off and claims his second boundary. No point chasing that lads

9.2 - Pradeep to Guptill, FOUR, short and wide and Guptill makes matters worse for Pradeep. Jumps back inside the crease and slaps it past cover for a well-timed boundary

9.1 - Pradeep to Guptill, FOUR, Pradeep comes onto bowl for the first time in this Test match and he's greeted with a boundary by Martin Guptill. Fullish and zips away outside off, Guptill opens the face of the bat and runs it between gully and the slip cordon, silky stuff

6.1 - Lakmal to Latham, FOUR, first boundary for Latham! He stands still at the crease and punches this past Ranaga Herath at mid-off

6.0 - Mathews to Guptill, FOUR, aggressive stuff from Guptill! More of an ODI shot. He clears his front leg and dispatches this full delivery over mid-wicket. Got it off the toe-end but the ball had enough power to travel the distance

4.1 - Lakmal to Guptill, FOUR, classy! Back of a length outside off, Guptill rises on his toes and punches square on the off-side. No need to run for those lads!

76.5 - Dushmantha Chameera to Wagner, SIX, that's massive! Out of the park! And that massive stroke invited a new suitcase of balls. Banged in again, perhaps too high to take it on. But Wagner, trying his luck since he walked in, connects one finally. Turns around clockwise in his crease and middles the hook shot over the backward square leg fence. Well over the fence, I should say.

41.4 - Herath to Mitchell Santner, SIX, comes down the pitch and lofts it low over the bowler's head. Didn't get too close to get the elevation and wooded it pretty right

18.4 - Herath to Latham, SIX, tossed up deliciously. Latham, well aware of the fact that this isn't Galle, gets out of the crease and lofts it through the line. Clobbers it delicately over the long-on fence for a maximum. Kiwis on a speed-train now

16.5 - Mathews to Guptill, SIX, that's gargatuan. New Zealand's grounds are any way too small for Guptill and this shot makes them look miniature. Just a little shimmy down the pitch and a loft with full stretch of the hands to help the ball fly over long-off

79.4 - Pradeep to Boult, out Caught by Herath!! Herath - some might say what can he do on the field apart from bowling spin. Let me tell you: He can take some stunning catches. He had done so in the past and he continues to do. This one's pitched short and slinged away from the right-hander. Boult goes deep inside the crease and splices the pull. Herath stationed at mid-on times the jump to perfection and pouches a one-handed blinder. Boult c Herath b Pradeep 0(3)

78.4 - Dushmantha Chameera to Wagner, out Caught by Kithuruwan Vithanage!! And that is the fifer that Dushmantha Chameera has worked so hard for. Has been a tearthrough spell. Bent his back and made the Kiwis hop in their own backyard. The familiar shorter length this was, Wagner flat-bats the ball straight to cover, a field position that was just plugged by Mathews, to invite a huddled Lankan embrace. And that late wicket also implies stumps. Wagner c Kithuruwan Vithanage b Dushmantha Chameera 17(26) [4s-2 6s-1]

72.2 - Dushmantha Chameera to Southee, out Caught by Udara Jayasundera!! New Zealand are taking on the short balls and handing out their wickets in gift-wraps of impatience and callousness. Short and down the leg side, easily avoidable delivery when your side needs to get at par with Sri Lanka's first innings total. But Southee swivells and pulls it. Looks like he middled it all right but places it straight down the throat of fine leg. Southee c Udara Jayasundera b Dushmantha Chameera 4(5) [4s-1]

71.2 - Lakmal to Watling, out Caught by Kithuruwan Vithanage!! What drama! More effort to decipher the catch than to take that wicket perhaps. Wide half-volley inviting Watling forward. Goes hard on the drive but couldn't middle it as he wasn't far across to reach the ball. Outside edge runs low to the left of backward point. Vinthage gets low, takes the catch and tumbles behind. Since the shots were limited, the onfield decision stayed there. Watling c Kithuruwan Vithanage b Lakmal 28(82) [4s-4]

62.1 - Pradeep to Mitchell Santner, out Caught by Chandimal!! Santner falls after a handy knock. Lovely delivery from Pradeep, pitched in that corridor outside off and straightened a fraction, Santner was pressing forward in defence, gets the faintest of edges and it's gobbled up by Chandimal. Sri Lanka were confident and decided to review Reiffel's call, they stood vindicated on replays. The stubborn sixth wicket stand has been broken. Mitchell Santner c Chandimal b Pradeep 38(105) [4s-3 6s-1]

43.1 - Herath to Brendon McCullum, out Caught by Kusal Mendis!! After the inside-edge HotSpot and the no-ball drama, Brendon McCullum's luck runs out! No 101st world record maximum today. Herath cleverly angled this in, McCullum looked to wrist it to mid-wicket but got an inside edge onto his pad. Mendis at silly point dived two-handed to his right and managed to hold it inches above the turf. Amazing reflexes. Momentum-generating catch that for the hosts and Sri Lanka have their foot in the door now. Brendon McCullum c Kusal Mendis b Herath 18(54) [4s-2]

26.5 - Dushmantha Chameera to Ross Taylor, out Caught by Chandimal!! Gee! New Zealand are literally surrendering their wickets after a brisk start post-lunch. What a spell of bowling from Chameera. The hosts have now lost 4 wickets in a space of 4 overs. Surely, this slump is courtesy bad batting and excellent bowling and there's nothing alarming in the pitch. Pacy bouncer around off stump line, Taylor hops to defend, but the ball takes the right thumb and Chandimal jumps to collect an easy catch. He throws the ball up in joy before the Sri Lankans mob Chameera. The angle across the right-hander meant Taylor had to play at it and it was too quick (144kph) for him as well. Ross Taylor c Chandimal b Dushmantha Chameera 0(5)

25.2 - Herath to Guptill, out Caught by Mathews!! What are New Zealand doing out there? This is absolutely crazy batting. From 81/0 they have slumped to 86/3. Guptill has played an ugly shot. Remember, he got away with a slog in Herath's previous over when the ball just escaped the sticks, but this time he's been caught well at slip. Harmless flighted delivery from Herath, could have been easily blocked or driven along the ground. For some reason, Guptill goes really hard at the slog. This is surely not a T20 or New Zealand don't need 10 runs to win off 3 balls in an ODI. The outside edge is found and the man at slip collects it above his head. Guptill c Mathews b Herath 50(77) [4s-9 6s-1]

24.2 - Dushmantha Chameera to Williamson, out Caught by Lakmal!! My word! What a 5 minutes this has been for Sri Lanka. Chameera continued to employ the short ball tactic from round the wicket. This was bowled at 140kph, despite there being two fielders for the mishit pull/hook in the deep, Williamson takes the bowler on, only to hole out in the deep. The attempted pull shot wasn't executed well, the ball took the top edge and flew high in the air, deep square leg ran forward and to his right to complete the catch. Massive blow for New Zealand as Williamson was the in-form batsman. Dushmantha Chameera went for 13 in his first over, but he's taken two wickets in his next 8 balls. Amazing how fortunes can change so quickly. Williamson c Lakmal b Dushmantha Chameera 1(4)

22.5 - Dushmantha Chameera to Latham, out Caught by Karunaratne!! Oh what a plan from Mathews. Latham has fallen into the trap. Against the run of play, the Black Caps lose their first wicket. It was a brisk start after lunch and it looked as if these two were on for a big stand, but Chameera has broken through. With a man at leg gully who was placed just before this ball, Chameera bowls a pacy short of length around leg stump line, Latham stands tall and plays the glance but picked the fielder out to perfection. Karunaratne fumbled on the first attempt but luckily it didn't go too far away and he grabbed the rebound. Latham c Karunaratne b Dushmantha Chameera 28(72) [4s-3 6s-1]

27.3 - Herath to Brendon McCullum, no run, gee, that was so close. No one thought there was an edge on that initially. The only question was did it strike him outside the line of off? But thanks to technology, we got to know that McCullum actually edged it onto his pad. He tried to defend off the front foot, but got an edge onto pad that rolled into the off-side. Mathews decided to review but couldn't get the decision overturned. Hawk-Eye shows that the ball would have bounced over the sticks as McCullum was a long way forward

25.1 - Herath to Guptill, 2 runs, meanwhile, amidst a crazy few minutes, Guptill completes his 15th Test fifty. Down the leg-side, Guptill glances it to fine leg. Just a raise of the bat from Guptill to acknowledge the applause

31.2 - Wagner to Siriwardana, FOUR, full and in the slot for Siriwardana. He continues to smash it all over the place. He stays firm at the crease and lofts it over extra cover for a well-timed boundary

31.0 - Southee to Siriwardana, FOUR, up and over! The ball was short, Siriwardana got under it and lapped it over backward point. Three fielders chased it - the backward point, gully and the deep point. Santner dives to stop the ball but ends up pushing it over the ropes

29.2 - Wagner to Siriwardana, byes, FOUR, the ball kept going up and up. The pitch has quickened up lots. Kept going, evaded the keeper behind and crossed the ropes

29.1 - Wagner to Siriwardana, FOUR, that was beautiful. Full delivery and Siriwardana takes full toll of it. Stays rooted to the crease and times the pants off it with an uppish clip to the deep mid-wicket fence

26.2 - Doug Bracewell to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, now he's hit this from the middle of the bat. He knew that the short ball was coming and waited for it on the back foot, Bracewell banged it short as expected and Mendis hooked it easily over leg gully

26.1 - Doug Bracewell to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, uppish, but safe. Short and very high, Mendis tries to hook, the ball lobs off the glove and flies over the keeper's head

24.3 - Doug Bracewell to Chandimal, FOUR, "caaaatch," is the cry as Chandimal gets a glove on that, luckily it dropped just in front of the keeper, who was diving to his left. Short and on the leg stump, Chandimal tries to fend, gets a glove and gets off the mark

19.4 - Wagner to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, dropped, but a tough chance. Watling dived full length to his left and got his fingertips to it. Oh dear, he landed badly on his left shoulder and he's down in pain. Short delivery on the leg stump, Mendis tries to hop and fend, the ball hits the splice of the bat and that is a big deviation, the keeper was horizontal to the ground when the ball touched his webbing on the left glove. Great effort!

18.0 - Doug Bracewell to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, driven off the front foot, through the legs of the non-striker and beats the dive at mid-on as well. Fullish in length from Bracewell, Mendis drives on the rise and makes good contact

15.2 - Doug Bracewell to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, loose stroke from Mendis but all safe in the end. He presses on the front foot and drives aerially, gets a thick outside edge which travels well wide of Latham at point, plenty of excitement from the Black Caps as the ball went past the point fielder

12.2 - Boult to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, "The more I see off him, the more I like," lauds Russel Arnold on air. Well said! He's still very young and IMO he's an improved cricketer since his debut Test match against West Indies. Coming to the delivery: Swinging in from a good length, Mendis closed the bat face on the drive and places it wide of mid-on for a boundary

8.2 - Boult to Karunaratne, FOUR, you can't bowl there - on the pads. Karunaratne takes full advantange of the poor delivery. By flicking it off his pads and placing it right in the gap through square leg

5.3 - Southee to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, swung late from a fuller length, Mendis pushes with soft hands and hence the outside edge dies down and rolls in the gap between gully and the slip cordon

2.4 - Boult to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, shot! That's the best way to respond isn't it? Probably the best feeling in the world if you're a batsman. A straight drive that goes past the bowler. All timing and class from the young Mendis

33.4 - Wagner to Kithuruwan Vithanage, SIX, the quintessential Vithanage in action. Oh! This is fun to watch. He's known for his aggressive style of batting and he's just shown a glimpse of it. Sits back and smokes this short delivery high and sailing into the cow corner fence

29.5 - Wagner to Siriwardana, SIX, Siriwardana is not holding back! Wagner continues with the short ball tactic and this time Siriwardana rocks back and times the pull to perfection, high and sailing into the backward square leg stands

29.3 - Wagner to Siriwardana, SIX, that was crunched! That's how you play a pull. Rather that's how you murder a pull. Stayed back, committed to the shot and swivelled around for a pancake-flat six over backward square leg

36.3 - Southee to Pradeep, out Caught by Watling!! That will be it. Sri Lanka made a cake, did all the decoration, a cherry on the top too. And what did they do in the end - they wrapped it up and gifted it to New Zealand just for everyone to have a mouthful of it. That's how I would describe Sri Lanka's second innings (approach in particular). Coming to the final nail in the coffin: As usual, a short delivery arrives from one among the New Zealand pacers. Pradeep was backing a long way across as he tried to slice it over cover. Was in no position to do so. He splices it high into the air. Ball swirls high and Watling swirls underneath it and in the end settles himself which is what just you need to do. Pradeep c Watling b Southee 0(3)

36.0 - Wagner to Lakmal, out Dushmantha Chameera Run Out!! Woof! Sri Lankan batsmen are finding ways to get out. Yes you read it right. It was more like, if you can't get me on a short ball, I'll better throw my wicket away. Sorry (for all the Sri Lankan fans) for being harsh. But that's not why you watch Test cricket. One team that dominates for two days and then all of a sudden, surrender themselves to the oppostion. Coming to the dismissal: Banged in short and at the batsman, Lakmal hops inside the crease and looks to fend. Ball balloons off the shoulder of the bat and lobs towards third man. Boult gets across and he spots there's some bizarre running in the middle. Immediately flings the ball to Wagner, who was halfway down the pitch. He collects, runs back and flicks the bails at the bowler's end. Lakmal called for a quick single and decided to send his partner back at the last instant. Dushmantha Chameera was all at sea there. Dushmantha Chameera run out (Boult/Wagner) 2(9)

33.5 - Wagner to Kithuruwan Vithanage, out Caught by Doug Bracewell!! Wagner you beauty! He hares forward, pumps his fist and screams in joy at a relatively frustrated looking Vithanage. New Zealand are just 2 wickets away from chasing what could be a chasable target. Wagner directs this short delivery around fifth, sixth stump line. Vithanage backs away and looks to slice the upper cut. Makes a poor connection meaning a top-edge which is gobbled up by Wagner's buddy at third man. Kithuruwan Vithanage c Doug Bracewell b Wagner 9(6) [6s-1]

32.3 - Southee to Herath, out Bowled!! Glove onto thigh pad and onto the stumps and Herath is on his bike. From 71/0 to 123/7 - what is this called? Can any one help me find the appropriate term in an English dictionary. I'll go with hara-kiri for this time. Coming to the dismissal: This was angled in from short of length, Herath, like many of his colleagues, was on the pulling dance. Ball didn't rise as much as he expected. He could only manage a glove that skims the pad before it kisses the timber. Another nail in the coffin. Herath b Southee 0(3)

31.5 - Wagner to Siriwardana, out Caught by Boult!! The end of a short and entertaining knock from Siriwardana. Wagner yells out a loud "yeaaaaah" after claiming the wicket and it's the SHORT BALahore that contiunes to script the downfall of Sri Lanka. Siriwardana was aiming to smack this short delivery over the cow corner fence. Mistimes it completely. Got it off the toe-end and Boult at deep mid-wicket ain't dropping that. Siriwardana c Boult b Wagner 26(18) [4s-3 6s-2]

30.1 - Southee to Mathews, out Caught by Watling!! And Mathews tried to emulate his mate there. Perishes to that. Short ball down leg. Had a touch of venom as it zooted off the pitch. Mathews was late on the pull and managed a top-edge to the keeper. Mathews c Watling b Southee 2(6)

28.2 - Southee to Kusal Mendis, out Caught by Mitchell Santner!! And can you believe that? Banged down across the batsman and Mendis too gets on the pull-downing train. Goes for it and to make things worse, tries to fetch it from wide of off. The ball takes the top edge, lobs high to fine leg where a cucumber-cool Santner grasps it two-handed meters from the rope. Kusal Mendis c Mitchell Santner b Southee 46(90) [4s-8]

25.5 - Wagner to Chandimal, out Caught by Guptill!! Oh he's glanced this straight to leg gully. This is so similar to New Zealand's innings yesterday. They went from 81/0 to 89/4, now Sri Lanka have slumped from 71/0 to 77/3. The short ball ploy once again does the trick. Shortish from Wagner around leg-stump line, Chandimal moves across the stumps a bit and glances, Guptill stays low at leg gully and takes a sharp catch moving to his left. That came quickly but he did well to cling on. Chandimal c Guptill b Wagner 4(10) [4s-1]

23.0 - Doug Bracewell to Udara Jayasundera, out Caught by Watling!! Drama out there. There wasn't a clear mark on the Hot Spot, Snicko showed nothing either, but the third umpire ruled that out based on the deviation he saw with the naked eye. The slowmo replay showed that the glove moved as the ball passed and that gave an indication to Kettleborough the third umpire. In fact, at one point he said there was a Hot Spot on the bat, but the ball never touched the bat. Even the commentators on air, Russel Arnold and Simon Doull were surprised to hear the third umpire talk about the Hot Spot on the bat. Getting back to the ball, it was a short delivery angled across the left-hander, Jayasundera was hopping and trying to defend, there was a sound as the ball passed the batsman as well. Watling was confident and he asked Baz to review. They managed to get the decision overturned. Jayasundera though isn't happy as he walks back. So Bracewell has taken two wickets in the over. Udara Jayasundera c Watling b Doug Bracewell 0(2)

22.4 - Doug Bracewell to Karunaratne, out Caught by Southee!! That's a nasty bumper and finally, the Black Caps get the first wicket. Short delivery on the stumps, it was very quick as well, Karunaratne couldn't get out of the line, tried to fend. He took his eyes off the ball and it lobbed up off the glove. Second slip moved forward to complete a simple catch. The keeper also called for it, but Southee took it in the end. The bouncer ploy has worked. Karunaratne c Southee b Doug Bracewell 27(65) [4s-1]

34.5 - Southee to Lakmal, 1 run, a direct hit and Lakmal would have been running straight into the pavilion. He clips this fullish delivery towards mid-wicket and calls for a quick single. His junior team-mate, obviously, can't say no. The fielder aims a direct hit at the bowler's end and misses, Lakmal dragged his bat but could have been well short

53.5 - Herath to Watling, FOUR, oh that's a good hit by Watling. Flighted delivery very full, Watling gets down on one knee and sweeps over square leg, no one in the deep and it races away for four

51.4 - Herath to Watling, FOUR, Watling shows aggression now! Steps out, gets to the pitch of this flighted delivery and smokes it high and over mid-wicket for a one-bounce four

49.2 - Dushmantha Chameera to Williamson, FOUR, Take a bow Kane Stuart Williamson! He is an artist, isn't he? He continues to accumulate runs. His team needed someone to stand up and Williamson just proved why he's rated as one of the best batsmen in the world. He steps up when it matters the most. He pulls this short delivery nonchalantly behind square and brings up his 13th Test hundred. Raises his bat, helmet and acknowledges the elated applause from the dressing room. Amidst all this, he now overtakes his skipper to record the most runs (1166) scored by a New Zealander in a calendar year. Many more to come KW, keep playing the same way and continue to entertain us...

47.2 - Dushmantha Chameera to Williamson, FOUR, full and on the pads. That's a candy for any top-class batsman. Gets across and flicks to thread the gap between mid-wicket and mid-on, no point chasing that lads

44.3 - Dushmantha Chameera to Williamson, FOUR, Williamson is dealing in boundaries. Another one with ample width on offer. Williamson latches onto it. Rocks back and clubs the cut square on the off-side, a boundary that moves Williamson into the nineties

44.2 - Dushmantha Chameera to Williamson, FOUR, smacked! Short and wide, Williamson jumps on the back foot and cuts past a diving gully to bring his second boundary of the day. Just 16 runs away from that milestone (of becoming the leading run-scorer for NZ in a calender year)

42.2 - Dushmantha Chameera to Williamson, FOUR, another one that's hurled short at the batsman. Williamson gets into position early and times the pull to perfection. The fielder at deep backward square had it covered for a moment. He slides but allows the ball to burst through his hands, can't afford to do that. First runs off the morning for Williamson and New Zealand

35.5 - Pradeep to Williamson, FOUR, glorious off-drive from Williamson. So solid from the right-hander. Full delivery in the slot, Williamson leans forward, presents the full face of the bat and drives it past the bowler through mid-off. Fifty partnership comes up as well

34.4 - Herath to Williamson, FOUR, catch is the call, but that's cleared mid-on. Flighted delivery on the leg stump, Williamson steps out, gets to the pitch of the ball, lofts it over the infield for four

30.4 - Pradeep to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, oh what sort of a shot was that? Short and outside off stump, McCullum waits and plays a tennis smash, hits it in the air over cover and it runs away for four

30.2 - Pradeep to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, there he goes! Short from round the wicket, sat up nicely, McCullum clears his front leg and muscles the pull shot over mid-wicket

26.1 - Dushmantha Chameera to Williamson, FOUR, inswinging yorker on the stumps, Williamson clips it away nicely along the ground and the timing is so good that it races away wide of mid-on. Fifty for Williamson, yet another crucial knock from KW. Gets a good round of applause from the crowd and he raises his bat to acknowledge them

24.5 - Dushmantha Chameera to Williamson, FOUR, and another one that's middled. Not short again but this was down leg. Williamson turned and picks it up as he rolled his wrists. Places it to backward square leg fence for a boundary

24.4 - Dushmantha Chameera to Williamson, FOUR, no complaints if you can play those kind of shots. Not a bad ball. Just back of a length outside off. Williamson back away and gets deep in his crease, cuts it ever so late through square

14.4 - Pradeep to Williamson, FOUR, ah, gorgeous! There's nothing you can do about it. Stands tall and punches it straight down the ground. That more than compensated for the first innings dismissal

13.0 - Pradeep to Ross Taylor, FOUR, good shot. Short ball, Taylor pulls it along the ground to the fine leg fence

7.2 - Lakmal to Ross Taylor, FOUR, short of length delivery outside off stump, Taylor tries to cut and gets an outside edge, it rolls to gully, who fumbles and concedes four runs. Sloppy cricket from Sri Lanka. Can't afford fielding lapses, especially when defending just 188

4.0 - Lakmal to Williamson, FOUR, short of a length delivery angled across from round the wicket, Williamson guides it very late, splits the two fielders at gully and it escapes to the third man boundary

1.0 - Dushmantha Chameera to Latham, FOUR, Pradeep, poor lad! It has been that kind of a day for Sri Lanka isn't it? This back of a length delivery was drifted into Latham's pads. He was on the back foot playing a casual flick down to fine leg. Pradeep gets across and somehow loses the sight of the ball - nutmegs through and Latham is off and running with a boundary

34.5 - Herath to Williamson, SIX, looks like Williamson wants to finish this off today. Once again great use of the feet from Williamson, lofts this straight back over the bowler's head for a maximum. In fact, this is the first six for Williamson in a Test in 2015

41.4 - Lakmal to Mitchell Santner, out Caught by Chandimal!! Genuine outside edge and it goes straight into the hands of the keeper. Was that reverse swing? Short of a length delivery swinging away from the left-hander, pitched around leg stump and ended up in the corridor of uncertainty, Santner had to play at it as it was close to the stump and he edged it to the keeper. New Zealand are 142/5, they still need 47 more to win. Mitchell Santner c Chandimal b Lakmal 4(19)

36.1 - Dushmantha Chameera to Brendon McCullum, out Caught by Mathews!! Chameera comes back and strikes again. He's taken all four wickets to fall. As expected, Chameera banged it short from round the wicket, McCullum stepped out for a big hit, he went for the slog, but mistimed it high in the air off the bottom of the bat, Mathews settled under it at cover and took a good catch. That was a well-judged grab by the Sri Lankan skipper to get rid of his counterpart. Brendon McCullum c Mathews b Dushmantha Chameera 18(35) [4s-2]

24.2 - Dushmantha Chameera to Ross Taylor, out Caught by (sub)Jeffrey Vandersay!! That effort at fine leg makes up for all the outfield stunners we miss out in Tests. Banged in, Taylor pulls it towards fine leg. Vandersay, the twelfth man, backpedals to take the catch but gets too close to the rope. Realizes that the momentum will push him over and throws the ball back in. Hops out of the ropes, hops back in and completes the catch nonchalantly. Wry smile and pats on the back. Ross Taylor c (sub)Jeffrey Vandersay b Dushmantha Chameera 35(53) [4s-2]

4.5 - Dushmantha Chameera to Guptill, out Caught by Karunaratne!! In the airrrrr and taken. Chameera has two wickets in 17 balls. Game on folks! New Zealand surely aren't front-runners. Sri Lanka are fighting hard. Bouncer well directed from round the wicket, aimed at Guptill's head, the batsman had to play at it. He was hopping and trying to fend, the ball lobs off the glove and goes towards leg gully. The fielder there ran forward and dived to take a good low catch. It's 11/2 inside 5 overs. Guptill c Karunaratne b Dushmantha Chameera 1(16)

2.3 - Dushmantha Chameera to Latham, out Caught by Pradeep!! Wicket number 6 (in the match) for Dushmantha Chameera. The short ball drama continues! Banged in around the leg-stump line, Latham rocks back and gets a thick top-edge on the pull. Pradeep is stationed at fine leg, he just needed to pouch that sans any fuss - he just does so and up go the Sri Lankan flags in the crowd. Latham is livid with himself. Latham c Pradeep b Dushmantha Chameera 4(9) [4s-1]

39.2 - Pradeep to Mitchell Santner, no run, optimistic shout for LBW, Mathews has reviewed and I think this is a waste of a review. Clearly pitched outside leg stump. Anyway, let's go through the process. It's a fair delivery, well, that ball pitched acres outside leg stump. Pure waste of time. Santner missed the flick and got hit on the pad. On seeing the replay, Mathews turned away in disappointment for the review. He knows that it was a bad review

12.0 - Herath to Ross Taylor, no run, how was that not out? Flighted delivery turned away a touch to catch Taylor's back pad in front. The batsman had looked to defend it but completely played the wrong line. Mathews reviewed and the impact was on off stump. However, since the on-field call was originally not-out, Taylor escaped as Hawk-Eye showed umpire's call