New Zealand celebrate after beating Sri Lanka 2-0

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

New Zealand demolished Sri Lanka by 193 runs on the fifth day of the second Test in Wellington to win the series 2-0.

New Zealand spinner Mark Craig starred with the ball as he took four wickets.

Starting out the day on 45/1, Sri Lanka opener Kaushal Silva and nightwatchman Dhammika Prasad only added six runs to their three-run partnership before Prasad was caught by James Neesham at second slip off the bowling of Trent Boult for six runs.

Kumar Sangakkara only made five runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Boult.

Sangakkara was not given out initially, but New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum decided to review the decision. Unluckily for Sangakkara, Snicko showed that he had edged the ball and due to that, the third umpire overturned the original decision.

Silva went on to score 50 off 121 balls, which included three boundaries, before he was caught by Craig at second slip off the bowling of Doug Bracewell.

Silva made a gutsy 50

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Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews failed to have an impact with the bat as he was brilliantly caught by Kane Williamson at gully off the bowling of Bracewell for eight runs.

Prasanna Jayawardene fared no better as he was caught by Williamson at cover off the bowling of Craig for 10 runs.

Dinesh Chandimal mustered 13 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Craig.

Craig struck again the very next ball when he trapped Rangana Herath lbw for a golden duck.

Craig recorded figures of 4-53 off 18 overs

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Herath decided to review the decision, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit leg stump. This led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.

Suranaga Lakmal accumulated six runs before he was run out by Bracewell.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 196 when Nuwan Pradeep was clean bowled by Tim Southee for one run.

Lahiru Thirimanne remained stranded on 62 off 144 balls, which included seven boundaries.

Thirimanne finished unbeaten on 62

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Craig was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Boult and Bracewell snapped up two wickets apiece and Southee claimed one.

McCullum was ecstatic to have won the series 2-0, and said: “The last little while we have played some outstanding cricket. To find a way out of the precarious situation we were in was special. The confidence has definitely improved among the group. Great Test win for the side and a series we are really proud of. Great performances from Kane and Watling, along with the bowlers. We have been through an interesting period where our results probably hadn’t stacked up for a while now. The boys were desperate to make their time with the New Zealand team a successful one, and that has shown in the fighting instincts the team has shown, and in how we have performed in difficult times.

“We are starting to make some headway into where we should be. We have had some challenges in front of us. Winning away from home was not easy, like we did in the West Indies, and then to tie the series against Pakistan in the UAE, then come here and put up some stellar performances against a very good Sri Lankan team, in particular, Kumar Sangakkara. It is great to see different people standing up and feeling comfortable to perform. We don’t want to get too far ahead, but we are plenty pleased with how far we have come over the last 12-14 months.”

Williamson was named Man of the Match, and said: “Someone did mention it to me (fastest to 3,000 Test runs by a New Zealander). The culture in the team has been outstanding for a while now. It has reflected in our performances, led in front by Brendon and the outstanding year [he has] had, along with Ross [Taylor]. The bowlers were outstanding again as they took the twenty wickets.

“I think we were both quite tired. I thought he [Watling] played outstandingly. It is a good cricket wicket. Usually provides a little for the ball and bat. It definitely flattened out a lot so it was great for BJ and I to put up that [365-run] partnership, and then set it up for the bowlers to take it through. I think it is important to keep looking at the next match to keep grounded and keep improving so that when the World Cup comes around, we will be ready.”