NZ demolish SL to sweep Test series.
NZ secured a 2-0 Test series whitewash against SL on Monday, winning by innings and 58 runs. Despite a late fightback from the visitors, NZ claimed victory.
SL scored only 164 in their first innings and were asked to follow on after NZ declared at 580 in Wellington. SL were then bowled out for 358.
On Monday, Dhananjaya de Silva’s fightback was ended on 98 by NZ’s seamers, who had already sniffed victory. De Silva had passed 3,000 Test runs and missed a 10th Test century. He was caught after a 76-run partnership with debutant wicketkeeper Nishan Madushka, who was caught just before the tea break.
De Silva’s dismissal signaled the end of the resistance by Sri Lanka, as they lost their last three wickets for 40 runs. The tailenders were picked off and Sri Lanka suffered a defeat.
Tim Southee and Blair Tickner, the NZ skipper and seamer, respectively, did most of the damage by taking three wickets apiece. When Sri Lanka resumed the day on 113-2, NZ’s pace attack was relentless, with Matt Henry catching Kusal Mendis on 50 in the first over of Monday.
After the break, De Silva continued the resistance with Madushka, but their dismissals for no runs on either side of tea left Sri Lanka 98 runs short. New Zealand tightened their grip, with Jayasuriya top-edging his shot to Tickner and managing just two runs off 44 balls. Rajitha’s lucky edge past Bracewell in the slips took Sri Lanka past 350 runs.
Bracewell caught Lahiru Kumara’s wicket off Southee with a diving catch after missing an earlier chance. Fernando survived a review as the ball clipped his trousers. However, New Zealand won when Williamson caught Rajitha, Sri Lanka’s top-scorer in the second innings, who had hit a four to cross 350 runs.
This is published in logical baat, on 20 March, 2023.
