New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Day 2: Chameera Blows Black Caps Away

Sri Lanka gained the upper hand on the second day of their Test against New Zealand by reducing their hosts to 232 for nine by the close of play.

With their own innings coming to a close on 292 in the morning session, a potential 50-plus lead could be invaluable on a deck that remains conducive to seam bowling.

Let's take a look at some of the major talking points from an intriguing day's play.

2nd session

The game was plodding along predictably up until lunch with New Zealand responding assuredly to their opponents' competitive first-innings total of 292.

However, whatever the Sri Lankans had to eat worked as they came out in the second session with all guns blazing.

In the space of 24 balls, 81 without loss became 89 for four, and from that point on, Angelo Mathew's men continued to take wickets at regular intervals.

With the pitch continuing to aid swing and also showing signs that the spinners could come into play, this session could well be the defining one of the game.

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Enter Chameera

Genuine out-and-out pace bowlers are sought-after commodities in cricket, and in Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lanka seem to have made found a gem.

Unsurprisingly, the 23-year-old is raw and, at times, expensive—see his figures of three for 173 from just 34 overs at Dunedin—but when he gets it right, the batsmen know about it.

After a disappointing morning session, Angelo Mathews unleashed his secret weapon, and Chameera responded with an incredible hostile spell that accounted for Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.

The paceman also picked up two more scalps late on to secure his first-ever Test five-for and fully announce himself on the international stage.

Openers

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While the likes of Williamson, Taylor and Brendon McCullum tend to attract plenty of attention, the Kiwis' opening partnership tends to travel under the radar.

But, once again, Martin Guptill and Tom Latham laid down a decent platform for their side by putting on 81 runs for the first wicket.

In fact, after adding 56 and 79 together in the first Test, this was their third consecutive 50-plus partnership.

Guptill has been in red-hot form of late, scoring four half-centuries and two tons in his last 14 innings while the 23-year-old Latham boasts a healthy average of 41 from his 15 Tests so far.

What next?

On a bowler-friendly wicket such as this, a significant first-innings lead is invaluable, and thus Sri Lanka are clearly in the box seat.

When they bat second time around, if they can make another 250-plus score, then New Zealand will have a mountain to climb.

Conversely, the Kiwis surely won't bowl as waywardly as they did on day one, and if they can dismiss the subcontinental side cheaply, we could have a fourth-innings nailbiter on our hands.