Black Caps defy weather to tie series with Sri Lanka

New Zealand have beaten Sri Lanka by an innings and 65 runs in the second Test in Colombo on Monday to square the two-match series at 1-1.

New Zealand bowled out the hosts for 122 at Colombo's P. Sara Oval, having declared at 6-431 in their first innings of the rain-affected match.

Paceman Tim Southee struck twice to get into the Sri Lankan tail before tea, with Sri Lanka, who scored 244 in their first innings, 187 behind at the beginning of the final session of play.

Earlier, skipper Dimuth Karunaratne provided some resistance with his 70-ball 21 as he and Niroshan Dickwella put on 41 runs for the sixth wicket before Southee broke the stand.

Karunaratne came to the crease after the fall of the fifth wicket, following his time off the field on day four due a muscle strain.

Play begun on day five with B.J. Watling scoring an unbeaten 105 for the Black Caps before Kane Williamson declared the innings to give the tourists a shot at levelling the series.

Sri Lankan openers were dismissed without scoring as Ajaz Patel’s direct hit ran out Lahiru Thirimanne in the first over of the innings.

Kusal Perera was then caught behind off paceman Trent Boult and the Sri Lankan top-order fell like a pack of cards.

Kusal Mendis provided his team with the only bit of fight-back with his 20 off 63 deliveries, before being bowled off a big turning delivery from off-spinner William Somerville.

Somerville struck again later when Suranga Lakmal was caught by Tom Latham, before Dickwella was caught off the bowling of Ajaz Patel for an innings-high 51 (161 balls).

Tom Latham was named player of the match after scoring 154 from 251 deliveries in New Zealand’s first and only innings.

By winning the second match in the two-Test series, the Kiwis earned 60 World Test Championship points, moving them to second behind India in the inaugural WTC leader board.