New Zealand thrash Sri Lanka to level series 1-1

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

Victory was achieved with an hour left on day five when Lasith Embuldeniya edged a short delivery from Trent Boult to Kane Williamson at gully.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 122 runs after New Zealand declared their second innings on 431 for six with a first innings lead of 185.

Wicketkeeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella fought a lone battle for Sri Lankans but he was ninth man out after a three-hour vigil. He made 51.

New Zealand squared the two match series having lost the opening Test match in Galle last week.

Sri Lanka, who scored 244 in their first innings and were still 187 behind as they started their second, were tottering at 88 for seven at tea.

New Zealand then cleaned up.

Off-spinner William Somerville had Suranga Lakmal caught by Tom Latham - top-scorer of the match with 154 - before Dickwella was caught off Ajaz Patel.

Patel, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Somerville all finished with two wickets apiece.

New Zealand close in on series-levelling Sri Lanka win

Paceman Tim Southee struck twice to get into the Sri Lankan tail as New Zealand edged close to a series-levelling victory on day five of the second rain-hit Test on Monday.

At tea Sri Lanka, who scored 244 in their first innings and were still 187 behind as they started their second, were tottering at 88 for seven at Colombo's P. Sara Oval.

Niroshan Dickwella, on 36, and Suranga Lakmal on 0 were batting with the hosts still trailing by 99 runs and needing to bat out one more session for a series-clinching draw.

Sri Lanka are 1-0 up in the two-Test series after their six-wicket victory in Galle.

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

Karunaratne, who came after the fall of the fifth wicket following his time off the field on day four due a muscle strain, was trapped lbw.

Southee struck again with the second wicket of the session to send back Dilruwan Perera for nought as the hosts slipped to 75 for seven.

Earlier B.J. Watling scored an unbeaten 105 in the first session of play before skipper Kane Williamson declared the innings to give the tourists a shot at levelling the series.

Sri Lankan openers were returned to the pavilion without scoring as Ajaz Patel got Lahiru Thirimanne run out with a direct throw in the first over of the innings.

Kusal Perera was 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.

Karunaratne, who went off the field on day four after suffering a muscle strain in his left leg, could not bat in the usual opening slot and came in at number seven to face three deliveries before lunch.

In the morning session Watling lost his overnight partner Colin de Grandhomme early after the tourists resumed the final day's play on 382 for five but went on to stretch their lead.

De Grandhomme was holed out at square leg while attempting a slog sweep off Lasith Embuldeniya for 83 on the second ball of the morning session.

Watling, who started the day on 81, went on to complete his seventh Test fifty and took on the Sri Lankan bowlers with Tim Southee for company.

Southee smashed 24 off 10 deliveries with two fours and two sixes as he put on an unbeaten 49-run stand with Watling.

Tom Latham remained the top-scorer of the match with his 154.

New Zealand skittle Sri Lanka top order to scent victory

New Zealand rattled Sri Lanka with five early wickets to scent victory after they declared their first innings on 431 for six on day five of the rain-hit second Test on Monday.

At lunch Sri Lanka, who scored 244 in their first innings and were still 187 behind as they started their second, were tottering at 33 for five at Colombo's P. Sara Oval.

Niroshan Dickwella, on five, and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne on nought, were batting with the hosts still trailing by 154 runs and needing to bat out two sessions to hold on for a series-clinching draw.

Sri Lanka are 1-0 up in the two-Test series after their six-wicket victory in Galle.

New Zealand's wicketkeeper-batsman B.J. Watling scored an unbeaten 115 in the first session before skipper Kane Williamson declared the innings to give the tourists a shot at levelling the series.

Both Sri Lankan openers were returned to the pavilion without scoring as Ajaz Patel ran out Lahiru Thirimanne with a direct throw in the first over.

Kusal Perera was caught behind off paceman Trent Boult. Kusal Mendis provided some resistance with his 20 off 63 deliveries before being bowled off a big turning delivery from off-spinner William Somerville.

Karunaratne, who went off the field on day four after suffering a muscle strain in his left leg, could not bat in his usual opening slot and came in at number seven to face three deliveries before lunch.

Earlier Watling quickly lost his overnight partner Colin de Grandhomme after the tourists resumed the final day's play on 382 for five.

De Grandhomme holed out at square leg while attempting a slog-sweep off Lasith Embuldeniya for 83 on the second ball of the morning session.

But Watling, who started the day on 81, went on to complete his seventh Test fifty and took on the Sri Lankan bowlers with Tim Southee for company.

Southee smashed 24 off 10 deliveries with two fours and two sixes as he put on an unbeaten 49-run stand with Watling.

Tom Latham remained the top-scorer of the match with his 154.

Sri Lanka v New Zealand 2nd Test scoreboard

Scoreboard at the end of New Zealand's first innings on day five of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Monday:

Sri Lanka 1st innings

244 (D. Karunaratne 65, D. de Silva 109; T. Southee 4-63, T. Boult 3-75)

New Zealand 1st innings (overnight 382-5)

J. Raval c de Silva b D. Perera 0

T. Latham lbw D. Perera 154

K. Williamson c Mendis b Kumara 20

R. Taylor c de Silva b Embuldeniya 23

H. Nicholls c de Silva b D. Perera 15

B.J. Watling not out 105

C. de Grandhomme c Kumara b Embuldeniya 83

T. Southee not out 24

Extras (lb4, w3) 7

Total (6 wickets dec, 115 overs) 431

Did not bat: W. Somerville, A. Patel, T. Boult

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Raval), 2-34 (Williamson), 3-84 (Taylor), 4-126 (Nicholls), 5-269 (Latham), 6-382 (Grandhomme)

Bowling: D. Perera 37-4-114-3, D. de Silva 5-1-10-0, S. Lakmal 11-2-32-0, L. Kumara 25-0-115-1 (w3), L. Embuldeniya 37-4-156-2

Toss: Sri Lanka

Umpires: Michael Gough (ENG) and Bruce Oxenford (AUS)

TV umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

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