New Zealand beat difficult Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka made a solid start to the second Test against New Zealand, overcoming a green pitch to finish day one at 264-7.

Angelo Matthews (63) and Dushmantha Chameera (0) will return to the crease on Saturday after the Sri Lankans experienced mixed fortunes as rain forced stumps to be called early at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

The tourists lost their openers within the opening 16 overs, with medium-fast Tim Southee (2-51) and wicketkeeper BJ Watling combining well to get the damage done early on Friday.

After the Black Caps won the toss and elected to field, Watling caught Dimuth Karunaratne (12) behind after nicking Southee’s effort through, before Kusal Mendis (31) suffered a similar fate.

Dinesh Chandimal arrived at the crease to somewhat steady the ship, making 47 before a horrid miscommunication with Udara Jayasundera saw the latter run out.

Jayasundera was forced to double back to the strikers end with Chandimal not interested in a second run, leaving Sri Lanka 113-3.

Chandimal did not last much longer himself as Doug Bracewell (1-79) finally got reward for his efforts with some lovely swing, forcing the batsman to play and clip the ball to Watling, who claimed involvement in a fourth-successive wicket.

The arrival of Matthews beckoned in a crucial 138-run partnership with Milinda Siriwardana that should have put Sri Lanka in a commanding position heading into day two.

However, when Trent Boult claimed his first (2-43) wicket courtesy of a juggling catch from Ross Taylor to send Siriwardana (62) packing, the Sri Lankans collapsed spectacularly and were only saved by the rain which saw stumps called early.

Kithuruwan Vithanage replaced Siriwardana, but would join him back in the stands only three balls later as Boult notched a second wicket when captain Brendon McCullum took a fine diving catch to send the former packing for a duck.

Not even two overs later, Sri Lanka were cursing their second run out of the innings when an ambitious call for a single from Matthews forced Rangana Herath (4) into a run he never looked likely to make.

Kane Williamson collected the ball from down gully and made no mistake with his throw, with the run out being confirmed by the third umpire, resulting in the loss of a third wicket for just five runs.