New Zealand on the brink of series sweep

New Zealand moved to the brink of a 2-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka on day three of the second Test yesterday by dismissing the tourists for 164 and reducing them to 113 for two, still 303 runs in arrears, after enforcing the follow on.
After Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls posted double centuries as the hosts made 580-4 declared on day two, it was the turn of New Zealand’s bowlers to take centre stage at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.
Spinner Michael Bracewell and seamer Matt Henry took three wickets apiece as the Sri Lankans were dismissed in their first innings before the tea break.
Despite a battling 89 from skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka lost six wickets with the addition of only 55 runs after lunch. With the threat of rain hanging over the fifth day of the match, Blacks Caps skipper Tim Southee wasted no time in sending Karunaratne and his opening partner Oshada Fernando straight back in to face the home attack again.
Fernando faced 36 balls before departing for five to give paceman Doug Bracewell, cousin of Michael, another wicket on his return to Test cricket after a gap of nearly seven years. Karunaratne played another captain’s innings, however, recording a fourth half century in his last five innings and putting together a second-wicket partnership of 71 with Kusal Mendis. His New Zealand counterpart Southee separated them when Karunaratne, on 51, pulled a shot to deep midwicket where Devon Conway took a fine catch into the sun.
Angelo Mathews came out to join Mendis and the pair survived until stumps.
Mendis will resume today on 50 not out, while Mathews was unbeaten on one.
In one positive historical note for Sri Lanka, Mendis and Mathews both scored centuries as they batted together for two rain-disrupted days to save a draw the last time the two teams played a Test in Wellington five years ago. Michael Bracewell said New Zealand, who beat England last month after following on at Basin Reserve, would not be getting ahead of themselves.
“We’ve got a big job, the two guys at the crease at the moment are obviously very experienced and have scored a lot of Test runs,” he told reporters. “You have that goal in the end, but really trying to concentrate on what you’re doing in the moment.”
Victory would complete a memorable week for allrounder Bracewell, who signed up to a maiden Indian Premier League contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement for injured Englishman Will Jacks.
“It’s one of those things that’s a little bit strange happening in the middle of a game,” he said. “So I haven’t afforded myself too much time to get too excited because obviously there’s a big game in front of me but I’m excited for getting over there.”

SCOREBOARD
New Zealand 1st innings 580-4
Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 26-2)
O. Fernando c Blundell b Henry 6
D. Karunaratne c Latham b M. Bracewell 89
K. Mendis c Conway b D. Bracewell 0
P. Jayasuriya c Mitchell b Southee 4
A. Mathews c Blundell b Henry 1
D. Chandimal st Blundell b M. Bracewell 37
D. de Silva c Southee b M. Bracewell 0
N. Madushka c M. Bracewell b Henry 19
K. Rajitha run out (Latham/M. Bracewell) 0
L. Kumara not out 1
A. Fernando c Williamson b Tickner 0
Extras (b4, lb1, nb1, w1) 7
Total (all out, 66.5 overs) 164
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (O. Fernando), 2-18 (Mendis), 3-27 (Jayasuriya), 4-34 (Mathews), 5-114 (Chandimal), 6-116 (de Silva), 7-156 (Madushka), 8-163 (Rajitha), 9-163 (Karunaratne), 10-164 (A. Fernando)
Bowling: T. Southee 15-6-22-1, M. Henry 20-6-44-3 (1w), D. Bracewell 12-7-19-1 (1nb), M. Bracewell 12-1-50-3, B. Tickner 6.5-1-21-1, D. Mitchell 1-0-3-0
Sri Lanka 2nd innings (following on)
O. Fernando c sub (Young) b D. Bracewell 5
D. Karunaratne c Conway b Southee 51
K. Mendis not out 50
A. Mathews not out 1
Extras (lb1, nb1, w4) 6
Total (for two wickets, 43 overs) 113
To bat: D. Chandimal, D. de Silva, N. Madushka, K. Rajitha, A. Fernando, P. Jayasuriya, L. Kumara
Fall of wickets: 1-26 (O. Fernando), 2-97 (Karunaratne)
Bowling: T. Southee 9-5-9-1 (1w), M. Henry 9-2-24-0, M. Bracewell 10-3-28-0, D. Bracewell 8-2-20-1 (1w, 1nb), B. Tickner 7-1-31-0 (1w)
Toss: Sri Lanka