Watling rescues New Zealand

The tourist, having conceded an 18-run first innings lead, was reeling at 25 for three. But Tom Latham made 45 and Watling produced a fighting 50 to stretch New Zealand’s lead to 177 runs with three wickets in hand. William Somerville was batting on five at the other end when bad light stopped play at the Galle International Stadium.

Earlier, Sri Lanka added 40 runs to its overnight score of 227 for seven before losing its last three wickets in the morning session. New Zealand, which made 249 in the first innings, was undone by the Sri Lankan spinners in their second spell as well. Off-spinner Dhanjaya de Silva drew first blood when Jeet Raval (four) was caught at cover after trying to check his drive shot.

Kane Williamson had fallen for a third ball duck in the first innings and he looked uncharacteristically ill at ease in the second as well. The right-hander made four before charging out against Lasith Embuldeniya. Kusal Perera, positioned at mid-on, took a superb catch leaping backward to send back the New Zealand skipper.

In his next over, Embuldeniya dismissed Ross Taylor (three) to further peg back the tourist. Latham staged a brief recovery job with Henry Nicholls who contributed 26 before both departed. Watling then took it upon himself to stretch the away side’s lead. The wicketkeeper-batsman hit five boundaries in his patient knock while Tim Southee chipped in with 23.

Brief scores: New Zealand (1st innings) 249 all-out in 83.2 overs; Sri Lanka (1st innings) 267 all-out in 93.2 overs; New Zealand (2nd innings) 195 for 7 in 76 overs (BJ Watling 63*, Tom Latham 45, LasithEmbuldeniya 4/71)