Williamson’s superb form with the bat continued
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten 80 and wicketkeeper BJ Watling made 48 not out to keep Sri Lanka at bay on the third day of the second Test in Wellington.
However, Sri Lanka pace bowler Nuwan Pradeep deserves a lot of credit for ripping through New Zealand’s top order.
Starting out the day on 22/0, New Zealand’s opening duo of Hamish Rutherford and Tom Latham converted their 22-run partnership into a 75-run partnership before Rutherford was caught by Dinesh Chandimal at third man off the bowling of Pradeep for 40.
Latham went on to score 35 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Pradeep.
Ross Taylor failed to trouble the scorers as he was clean bowled by Rangana Herath for a duck.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum mustered 22 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Dhammika Prasad.
McCullum decided to review the decision, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit the stumps. This led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.
James Neesham fared no better as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Pradeep.
Pradeep dismissed Rutherford, Latham and Neesham
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Neesham was not given out initially, but Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews opted to review the decision. Since Hawk-Eye showed that the ball was pitching in line and hitting the stumps, the third umpire overturned the original decision.
Williamson and Watling stabilised the innings with an unbeaten 94-run partnership, during which Williamson brought up his half-century, before stumps was called.
Williamson finished on 80 off 200 balls, which included six boundaries, while Watling remained undefeated on 48 off 140 deliveries, which included six boundaries as well.
Watling hit six boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 48
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pradeep was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Herath and Prasad claimed one wicket each.
New Zealand ended day three on 253/5 and will continue batting tomorrow at 11:00 local time or 22:00 GMT (previous day).