New Zealand defeats Sri Lanka to win all three test matches

Despite a late comeback by the visitors, New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka on Monday by an innings and 58 runs to win the Test series 2-0. Just scoring 164 in their first innings, Sri Lanka was asked to continue after the Black Caps in Wellington declared at 580. After that, they were bowled out for 358. After mounting a comeback on Monday, Dhananjaya de Silva passed 3,000 Test runs before being caught on 98, missing out on a tenth Test century.

When they ended his 76-run partnership with rookie wicketkeeper Nishan Madushka, who was caught just before tea, New Zealand’s seamers had already sensed victory.

The battle came to an end when De Silva was removed; Sri Lanka lost their final three wickets for 40 runs as the tailenders were eliminated.

With three wickets each, Tim Southee, the captain of New Zealand, and seamer Blair Tickner caused the majority of the damage.

Although Sri Lanka ended the day on 113-2, New Zealand’s pace attack provided little relief as Kane Williamson caught Kusal Mendis on 50 in the first over of Monday.

Soon after, with just two runs from 44 balls added, Angelo Mathews also walked, putting the visitors in jeopardy of losing at 116-4. In the opening session, De Silva and Dinesh Chandimal added 126 runs together, slowing New Zealand’s progress. The partnership came to an end when Tickner caught Chandimal on 62 just before lunch.

De Silva and Madushka continued Sri Lanka’s resistance after the break, but after their dismissals for no runs each side of tea, Sri Lanka still needed 98 runs. Prabath Jayasuriya got just two runs from 44 balls when he top-edged his shot to Tickner as New Zealand gradually tightened the screws.

With a four, Kasun Rajitha helped Sri Lanka surpass 350 runs. He was fortunate to eke his shot past Michael Bracewell in the slips. The second time, Bracewell made no mistakes as he dived to catch Lahiru Kumara’s wicket off Southee. Asitha Fernando avoided a review when the ball brushed his pants rather than his leg pad, but New Zealand won the match when Rajitha was caught by Williamson, who had scored a double century in the first innings and was the top run-getter for the hosts.