New Zealand managed to dislodge Dimuth Karunaratne in the second session as Sri Lanka continued to fight to save the second Test on the final day on Monday (August 26). The hosts were 88 for 7 at Tea - trailing by 99 - after New Zealand declared on 431 for 6.
Rain interrupted all five days of the P Sara Test and Niroshan Dickwella made a dogged half-century on the final day, threatening the first draw in Sri Lanka after 25 results, but New Zealand still found a way to snatch 60 points to square the series 1-1.
After BJ Watling rumbled to a century, the bowlers blasted out Sri Lanka's top five for next to nothing, but a late rearguard from Dickwella kept New Zealand waiting. Tim Southee and Trent Boult - both of whom reached 250 Test wickets in this game - eventually sealed victory amid fading light to deny the hosts.
When the final session began, Sri Lanka still needed to bat out 36 overs to salvage a draw - they were 99 runs off making New Zealand bat again with three wickets in hand.
Both Karunaratne and Niroshan Dickwella did well to frustrate New Zealand and played out the first hour without any troubles. However, in the 44th over, Tim Southee bagged his 250th Test wicket when he trapped the Sri Lanka captain in front, who didn't offer a shot. Not only did Sri Lanka lose their pillar, they lost the review as well. Dickwella continued to fight and stayed unbeaten on 36 having blunted 111 deliveries. Dilruwan Perera chased a wide one and fell to Southee soon after as he edged the ball to first slip.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand batted for five overs and scored 49 more to stretch their overall lead to 187. Colin de Grandhomme fell on the second ball of the day but BJ Watling completed his seventh Test ton before the declaration came in. New Zealand gave themselves 91 overs to force a result and were helped massively by the bowlers, who bagged five wickets in the first session.
After Karunaratne wasn't allowed to open - having spent more than two hours off the field - Lahiru Thirimanne was run out on the fifth ball of the innings. Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva were all caught behind the wicket as they chased wide deliveries and played careless strokes with the game on the line. At 22 for 4, Sri Lanka were in a whole lot of trouble and were then left gasping by William Somerville.
Kusal Mendis saw the ball go above the eyeline from the offspinner, dip, turn in and take the top of off as he walked off spooked by the stunner. Sri Lanka ended the morning session at 33 for 5 after overnight rain delayed the start by half an hour.
