Magnificent Latham gives Black Caps the edge after Dhananjaya century

New Zealand trails Sri Lanka by 48 runs with two days remaining after Tom Latham made a brilliant unbeaten century.

Published : Aug 24, 2019 19:28 IST

A magnificent unbeaten century from Tom Latham put New Zealand on course for a lead.
A magnificent unbeaten century from Tom Latham put New Zealand on course for a lead.
lightbox-info

A magnificent unbeaten century from Tom Latham put New Zealand on course for a lead.

A magnificent unbeaten century from Tom Latham put New Zealand on course for a lead after Dhananjaya de Silva rescued Sri Lanka with a superb hundred of his own on day three of the second Test in Colombo.

All-rounder Dhananjaya (109) capitalised on some good fortune with a fifth Test century, getting Sri Lanka up to 244 all out at P Sara Oval.

Tim Southee (4-63) and Trent Boult (3-75) did the bulk of the damage but Dhananjaya held up the tourist, which was only able to bowl 66 overs in the first two days due to rain as it attempts to salvage a 1-1 draw.

Latham then reached three figures for the 10th time in the longest format and the opener was still there on 111, on a pitch offering plenty of turn, when New Zealand closed on 196-4 - trailing by 48.

 

Dhananjaya ought to have been caught and bowled for nine by Boult on day two and made the left-arm quick pay, playing positively after Sri Lanka resumed on 144-6.

Ajaz Patel ended a sixth-wicket stand of 41 by pinning Dilruwan Perera leg before wicket, but Suranga Lakmal offered support for Dhananjaya.

Dhananjaya struck spinner Patel for three consecutive boundaries, cutting and driving with conviction and brought up his hundred by striking Southee to the third-man boundary after the seamer removed Lakmal and Lasith Embuldeniya.

Dilruwan made an early breakthrough when the Black Caps started their reply, Dhananjaya taking a slip catch to send Jeet Raval on his way without scoring.

New Zealand was 84-3 with key men Kane Williamson (20) and Ross Taylor (23) back in the pavilion after nicking off to Embuldeniya and Lahiru Kumara respectively, and Dilruwan struck again to see the back of Henry Nicholls following a break for rain.

Latham played with great assurance against the spinners, though, and BJ Watling grew in confidence after an uncertain start.

The composed Latham reached a hard-earned century with a boundary - one of 10 in his brilliant knock - into the leg side off Dilruwan (2-76) and Watling was 25 not out at stumps with New Zealand closing in on a lead.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment