New Zealand Fight Back to Win Series Against Sri Lanka 2-0
New Zealand have continued their rise on the world cricket scene, fighting back from a difficult position to claim victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve.
Heading into Day 4 it was a sombre-looking situation for the hosts. With five men already back in the pavilion, the Black Caps held a slender lead after a series of cheap wickets.
New Zealand teams of the past would have given up. But not this one. They are growing in belief and confidence, which was evident in the unbeaten 365-run stand between Kane Williamson and BJ Watling. The partnership was a sixth-wicket world record, surpassing the mark set by Watling and Brendon McCullum at the same ground a year earlier.
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Both showed resilience and temperament as they accumulated runs in a controlled manner. Williamson once again proved that he is now the real deal in notching up a high score of 242 not out. He exhibited sparkling footwork as he punished the Sri Lankan bowlers with a series of textbook cover drives off the front-foot and calmly scored freely off his legs.
Watling on the other hand provided grit early, before becoming progressively more aggressive in his shots square of the wicket as the day wore on. His score of 142 not out was also a career-high score.
McCullum called the pair in late on Day 4, leaving Sri Lanka with an imposing 390 for victory. A wicket to Mark Craig after a loose shot from Dimuth Karunaratne only compounded the tourists' problems.
It was the seamers who had the early running on Day 5, with Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell combining well to manipulate the Sri Lankan batsmen despite the pitch not offering much assistance. Boult snaffled two early wickets, including the controversial one of Kumar Sangakarra in which Sangakarra was given out based off suspect evidence on the Decision Review System.
Sangakarra was visibly upset with the decision as he departed suggesting that he may not have hit the ball.
It was the key moment in the game, with the man who compiled a glorious 203 runs in the first innings managing just five in the second.
Bracewell then chipped in with two of his own, the second of which came via a piece of juggling brilliance from Williamson in the gully to remove Angelo Mathews. It was a successful return to the Test arena for Bracewell, as he swung the ball well in both directions and picked up five wickets, including a handy 2/25 in the second innings.
The final wickets came in quick succession, as Craig picked up three more, including two in two balls, to finish the innings with figures of 4/53.
This is an exciting time for New Zealand cricket, as the Black Caps continue their meteoric rise on the world stage and are becoming near unbeatable at home.
They now shift their attention to a seven-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, in preparation for the World Cup.
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