NZ beat SL by an innings and 65 runs | Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, Highlights And Cricket Score 2nd Test Match - Commentary

A wicket before Lunch will be a big booster for Sri Lanka and they will be eyeing just that. What will happen? Join us in a few minutes to find out.

New Zealand will now have to come out to bat for an over or two before Lunch. The first aim for them would be to get through those couple of overs unscathed.

Not the spinners but the pace bowling duo of Southee and Boult were the star bowlers. Picking up a combined 7 wickets with the right-armer scalping 4 and the left-armer picking up 3. Ajaz Patel got one wicket today. The Kiwis will be disappointed not to rattle the tail up quickly as Sri Lanka have managed to get to 244 after finding themselves at 130/6.

One man, three words! DHANANJAYA DE SILVA! Dropped on 9 by Boult on Day 2 and he made the most of it. He added 73 runs with the last three batsmen, counter-attacked the Kiwi bowling and where 200 looked difficult he scored a mind-blowing knock of 109 and took Sri Lanka close to 250.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. OUT! Bowled! End of a fabulous knock. Slower ball on a length, Dhananjaya swings his bat at it. He was going for a big heave but misses. The ball crashes onto the middle stump. Maybe that was the indication from the skipper from the dressing room and hence this shot came out. SRI LANKA ALL OUT FOR 244.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Length delivery on off, Dhananjaya taps it to point.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Full around off, Lahiru lofts it over cover. The man at cover jumps and stretches his hand out but cannot get close to it. The fielder from long off cleans it as the batsmen come back for the second.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Short again outside off, Lahiru swings his bat to pull but misses.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Short ball on middle and leg, Kumara takes his eyes off the ball and awkwardly keeps it out with a flat bat.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Bouncer on off, Dhananjaya pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Good length ball on off, Kumara strokes it towards cover for a single.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Back of a length ball on off, Kumara defends it off the back foot.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short delivery on middle, Dhananjaya pulls it to mid-wicket. He does not take the single.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Poor delivery from Trent Boult. Bowls a full toss on off, Dhananjaya smashes it through covers for a boundary.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On a length on off, Dhananjaya guides it towards third man.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Length delivery on middle, de Silva tucks it to the leg side.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short delivery on middle, Dhananjaya pulls it to mid-wicket.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On a good length on middle, Dhananjaya looks to pull but gets a bottom edge on this one.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Hang on a minute, Lahiru showing his skills with the willow here. Full on middle, Kumara lofts it over the bowler's head and gets a couple as the fielder from long on mops it up.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Yorker on middle, de Silva does well to glance it to the leg side for a single.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! 100 FOR DHANANJAYA DE SILVA! Take a bow, son! This has been a fabulous knock. He has made Boult pay for his mistake and single-handedly kept his side in the hunt. Fuller on off, Dhananjaya lofts it over covers and gets a boundary which gets him to his 5th Test hundred. He raises his bat, removes his helmet, lifts it and soaks in all the applause.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Full on off, de Silva drives it straight to cover.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Almost chopped on. Good length ball closer to the off pole, Dhananjaya looks to play a risky late cut. He gets an inside edge and luckily it goes to the keeper and not onto the stumps.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Fuller on off, de Silva pushes it to mid off.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. He does manage to get the single. Poor ball this as it is on the pads, de Silva flicks it to fine leg for single.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length ball on off, de Silva punches it towards cover. Can he sneak out a single here or even get to his 100? Surely he would not want Kumara to face the new over.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On the body, Silva tucks it to the on side.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Back of a length ball on off, de Silva defends it off his back foot.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Excellent shot but credit to Ajaz for his effort. Length ball on middle and off, Dhananjaya comes down the track and lofts it over mid off. It looks a certain boundary but Ajaz comes running in from long off and puts in a very good dive. It looks clean but Ajaz straightaway signals a boundary. The umpires still have a look and it shows his feet touched the ropes when he palmed it away. Full marks for the effort and honesty there for Ajaz. Dhananjaya moves to 98 now.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Attempted yorker, but comes out as a full toss on off. Lahiru does well to guide it to point.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Back of a length ball on off, Kumara keeps it out.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Bouncer! Lahiru ducks under it and lets it carry to the keeper.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Another one seen off. Dhananjaya will be a lot happy. Fuller on off, Kumara gets his bat down and keeps it out

Tim Southee to Lahiru Kumara. Survives the first one. Good length ball on off, Kumara does well to defend it.

Lahiru Kumara walks out at number 11. He just needs to give the strike to Dhananjaya de Silva who is batting on 94.

Tim Southee to Lasith Embuldeniya. OUT! LBW! The ball is clipping the leg pole and Embuldeniya has to walk back. 4-fer for Southee. Good length ball pitching on middle. It comes back in after pitching, Lasith looks to defend but misses. The ball hits his front pad. A confident appeal follows and the umpire gives Lasith Embuldeniya his marching orders. He takes a desperate review. Replay first confirms no involvement of bat. Hawk Eye later on rolls and shows all red and Embuldeniya has to walk back.

Embuldeniya has taken a review against the LBW decision. It looks to be hitting or at least clipping the leg pole. Let's see if the replays agree with it or not.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length ball on off, de Silva punches it to cover. 10 off the over.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Full on off, de Silva plays a very handsome straight drive. It goes to the right of mid off. It looks like it will beat the man there but Ajaz Patel dives and deflects the ball to mid on saving a certain boundary.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. EDGED AND FOUR! Moves to 94 now. Good length ball angling away from the right-hander. Dhananjaya looks to defend with soft hands but gets a thick outside edge. The ball goes wide of second slip on a bounce. Southee dives to his right but cannot get to the ball and it races away to the fence.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. EDGED AND SIX! Into the nervous 90s now. Short ball around the body, Dhananjaya looks to pull but gets a top edge which goes fine down the leg side. It does not look like it will go all the way over the ropes but to the surprise of everyone it does.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short ball around off, Dhananjaya pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket but does not take any run.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length ball on off, Dhananjaya defends it towards mid off.

Tim Southee to Lasith Embuldeniya. Full on off, Embuldeniya shows sound technique as he defends his first ball off the front foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya is the new man in.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. OUT! Caught! The short ball has done the trick. Excellent catch from Watling. Good aggression from Southee. He bangs another one short around the body. Lakmal looks to defend but ends up gloving it to the right of Watling. BJ was wrong footed but he corrects himself and dives on that side and takes a very good catch. The 43-run stand is broken. A crucial stand this and one must credit Lakmal for his fight. He made the Kiwis toil hard for his wicket.

The physio is out in the middle again to have another check on Lakmal's arm. Suranga is showing his fighting character as he is ready to continue his battle.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Ouch! Short ball on off, Lakmal hops and looks to defend. The ball kisses the outside edge and once again hits the bruised arm of Lakmal. We will have slight delay.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Very full on middle. Just a few inches away from being a yorker. Dhananjaya glances it towards deep square leg for a single. De Silva is confident to give strike to Lakmal, as he feels Suranga can face Southee.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Full on middle and leg, Lakmal flicks it to square leg for one.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Swing and a miss. Full outside off, Lakmal swings his bat at it as he wants to clear the park. He does not connect though.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. IN THE AIR AND JUST OVER! SIX! Short ball on middle and leg, Dhananjaya picks the length early, gets on his back foot and hooks it over fine leg. William Somerville in the deep is just inside the ropes. He jumps and stretches but the ball just goes over for a maximum.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On top of off, de Silva defends it with a straight bat towards mid off.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On the pads, de Silva tucks it towards mid-wicket.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Back of a length ball on off, de Silva keeps it out.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Well bowled. Good length ball outside off, this one shapes in. De Silva looks to defend but gets beaten all ends up.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Lovely shot! Full on off, Dhananjaya gets on his front foot and drives it through covers. The outfield is a bit slow today and hence the ball does not have the legs to go to the fence. They take two as the fielder cleans it up.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Negotiates the second one too. Full on off, Lakmal glances it towards deep mid-wicket but de Silva does not take the single.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Gets through the first one easily. Good length ball outside off, shapes away a little. Lakmal lets it go to the keeper.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Another good looking stroke and this time de Silva takes a single. Full outside off, Dhananjaya drives it through cover-point. There is a fielder in the deep so just one. Lakmal has two balls to fight here.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good shot but straight to the fielder. Full and swinging away. Dhananjaya drives it but straight to cover.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length ball outside off, this one shapes away a bit. Dhananjaya leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. No swing on this one as it goes straight to the keeper outside off.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Smart batting this. Dhananjaya has taken upon himself here. He plays the first 5 balls of the innings and then takes the single of the last one. It is full on off, Dhananjaya strokes it towards mid off and takes a quick single to keep the strike with himself.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. EDGED AND FOUR! Lady Luck is with Dhananjaya de Silva here. Full ball outside off, de Silva looks to play it on the off side but ends up getting a big inside edge. The ball misses the stumps and goes to the fine leg fence for a boundary. Any other day that might have gone on to chop the stumps but not today.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Nicley played. Fuller outside off, Dhananjaya gets on his front foot and drives it wide of sweeper cover. This time they run as there is two easily available. Jeet Raval in the deep runs to his right and puts in a dive to save a boundary. He is successful in his mission and saves two for his side.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On the pads, de Silva once again flicks and does not take the single.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length ball on the pads, Dhananjaya flicks it towards deep mid-wicket and surprisingly refuses to take a single.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Fuller on middle, this one tails in a bit. Dhananjaya defends it back to the bowler.

Trent Boult to operate with the second new ball.

New ball taken now.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Yorker on middle, Lakmal does really well to get his bat down in time.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Bouncer! Lakmal reads it early and sits under it.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short ball on middle and leg, de Silva pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Very full on off, de Silva keeps it out.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. On the pads, Silva glances it towards short fine leg.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. In the air but in no man's land. Back of a length ball on the body, Lakmal clears his front foot and looks to hoick his pull. He ends up top edging. Watling and the fielder from deep mid-wicket come running in but the ball falls far away from them, right in between. Single taken.

Once again the physio is out in the middle. Looks like Lakmal is still hurt by the Southee bouncer. His arm is being sprayed on here.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Floated on off, de Silva pushes it to cover.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Smart batting! Flighted delivery on off and middle, de Silva gets down on one knee and paddles it fine down the leg side. Taylor predicts it and runs to the leg side from first slip but he cannot stop the ball from beating him and going to the fence.

Ajaz Patel to Suranga Lakmal. Shorter on off, Suranga nudges it towards cover for one.

Ajaz Patel to Suranga Lakmal. Floated on middle and leg, Lakmal bends his back and keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Suranga Lakmal. Tossed up on off, Lakmal taps it back to the bowler.

Ajaz Patel to Suranga Lakmal. Flighted on middle, Lakmal glances it towards mid-wicket and gets a brace.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Another ball on the body. It is on a length, Lakmal turns it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Back of a length ball on the body, Suranga tucks it wide of short leg.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Hat-trick of short balls. This is played well by Lakmal. It is around the body, Suranga this time keeps his eyes on the ball and sways away from it.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Another brilliant short ball. This is just a tad away from the body. Lakmal looks to defend but once again takes his eyes off the ball. This time though the ball does not hit him and goes to the keeper.

The physio is out on the field, having a look at Suranga Lakmal here. Looks like it is just a wincing blow. Should be fine to continue.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. In the air but safe. Excellent bowling this. A very well directed short ball this. It is right around the body. Lakmal looks to defend but takes his eyes off. The ball lobs well short of the keeper. Watling comes running in but had no chance. It would not have mattered had he even got there as replay shows the ball had hit Suranga around his shoulder.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length ball on off, Dhananjaya shuffles across and turns it to fine leg for a single.

Ajaz Patel to Suranga Lakmal. BEATEN! Beauty of a delivery! Tossed up just outside off, Lakmal looks to defend but misses it due to the turn on this one.

Ajaz Patel to Suranga Lakmal. Flighted delivery on off, Lakmal defends it off the front foot.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Floated delivery on off, Dhananjaya taps it towards point for a run.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Excellent shot. Tossed up on middle, Dhananjaya plays a slog sweep over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Flighted delivery on off, Dhananjaya defends it off the back foot.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Tossed up on middle, Dhananjaya defends it out.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Short delivery, Lakmal looks to pull but gets a top edge. The ball goes towards third man who is very fine. They do not take the run as Dhananjaya wants to keep the strike.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. Bowls a short delivery outside off, Lakmal looks to fend at it but misses it.

Tim Southee to Suranga Lakmal. On a good length on off, Lakmal defends it off the back foot.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short and outside off, de Silva cuts it through point for a run.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Nice shot. Southee bowls it short on middle, Dhananjaya pulls it through square leg for a boundary. This is good batting from Dhananjaya de Silva.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. On a good length on off, Dhananjaya defends it off the front foot.

Ajaz Patel to Suranga Lakmal. EDGED AND FOUR! Lakmal has come out with an aggressive approach here. Shorter around off, Lakmal throws his bat at it. The ball takes the outside edge and flies wide of the diving second slip to the third man fence for a boundary. Lakmal starts his innings with a Strike Rate of 400.

Suranga Lakmal walks out to bat. He was the key in the first innings of the first Test match and it was Lakmal's partnership with Dickwella that gave them the lead at Galle.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. OUT! LBW! Umpire's call it is and Dilruwan has to walk back. Excellent ball this! Short and quick on off, Dilruwan expects it to spin and so he goes onto his back foot to play it on the off side. The ball though keeps straight and skids of the surface. Perera misses his shot and gets hit on the pad. Huge appeal follows and the umpire raises his finger. Dilruwan has a chat with Dhananjaya. After a brief chat, he opts to take it upstairs. Replays roll in and Hawk Eye shows that the ball would have gone on to clip the stumps. Dilruwan walks back but does not take the review with him. First wicket for Ajaz in this game.

LBW appeal taken upstairs. Dilruwan Perera has been adjudged LBW and after a chat with his partner, he has referred it. It looks plumb to the naked eye, let us see what the replays have to say.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Shorter on off, Dilruwan defends it with the spin towards cover.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short and spinning away. De Silva punches it towards cover for a single.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Darts one on the pads, Dilruwan glances it to the on side and gets to the other end.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Flighted on off, Dilruwan defends it off the front foot.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. On a length on off, Dhananjaya defends it out.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. On a good length on middle, Dhananjaya taps it to point.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length delivery on off, Dhananjaya defends it off the back foot.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Outside off, Dhananjaya shoulders arms to this one.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. On a good length on off, de Silva keeps it out.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Now swing first up for Southee. He bangs the first one slightly shorter on off, de Silva punches it to cover.

Tim Southee is into the attack.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Short with very little spin on offer. Perera defends it with ease.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Flighted on off, Dilruwan defends it off the front foot.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. FIFTY FOR DHANANJAYA DE SILVA! His 6th in Test cricket. This has been a very fine knock from the young lad. He got a life early on, when Boult dropped him and he has made the full use of it. Shorter on off, de Silva punches it towards point and gets to the other end to get to his milestone.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Dhananjaya de Silva. Short delivery on off, de Silva cuts it hard through point for a boundary.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Nicely played! Tossed up on off, Dhananjaya makes room and guides it towards third man for a boundary.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Good length delivery on middle, Perera defends it out.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. On a good length on off, Perera keeps it out.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Full toss on off, Dilruwan drives it back towards the bowler.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Good length delivery on off, Dilruwan defends it to mid off.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Boult again bowls a bouncer, Perera ducks underneath it.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Bowls a bouncer on leg, Perera does well to duck under it.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Excellent shot! Sri Lanka have been too defensive in their approach but this shot was like breaking that chain here. Floated on off, Dhananjaya comes down the track and lofts it over covers for a boundary.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Tossed up on middle, de Silva comes down the track and strokes it to mid off.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Shorter on off, de Silva gets on his back foot and keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Flighted on off, de Silva strokes it to mid off.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Follows it up with a calm front foot defense.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good intentions from Dhananjaya. Tossed up ball on middle, de Silva comes down the track and hits it hard but straight to mid on.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Back of a length ball on off, DP defends it to get through one more over.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Fuller on off, Dilruwan pushes it to cover.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On the pads, de Silva glances it to square leg for one.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Length ball outside off, de Silva leaves it alone.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Another one around the pads, Dilruwan glances it towards mid-wicket for one.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Good length ball on the pads, Perera flicks it wide of short leg, towards mid-wicket for a couple.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Nicely played! Brings up the 150 for Sri Lanka. Slightly wide and touch short outside off. Dhananjaya waits and then runs it down to third man with the spin through the vacant third man region for a boundary. The timing on that shot was pure. First runs for de Silva today.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Ajaz bowls it short, de Silva defends it to mid off.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Floated on off, de Silva defends it properly onto the ground.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Flighted on middle and off, Dhananjaya looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Shorter on off, de Silva blocks it away.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Tossed up on off, Dhananjaya defends it towards point.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Bouncer! The over ends the way it started. It is around the body, Perera ducks under it to get through the over.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Back of a length once again. Perera hops and keeps it down.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Good length ball on off, Dilruwan defends it with the outer half once again.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. FOUR! First runs of the day. After two short balls, Boult bowls one fuller on off, Dilruwan looks to defend but the ball goes off the outer half of his bat through the vacant gully region for a boundary.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Back of a length on off, Perera gets on his back foot and defends it with calmness.

Trent Boult to Dilruwan Perera. Bouncer! Boult starts with a bouncer. It is around the body, Dilruwan ducks under it.

Trent Boult to partner Ajaz Patel.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Maiden to start the day. Ajaz gives this one air and bowls it on off, Dhananjaya looks to defend but gets beaten comprehensively by the spin.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Floated on the pads, de Silva defends it with a straight bat.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Flights one on off, de Silva cautiously keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Tossed up on off. First one that is full. Dhananjaya bends and keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Another one short on off, de Silva defends it with the spin towards cover.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Starts with a shorter ball on leg, Dhananjaya makes room and strokes it to cover point.

We are all set for the start of Day 3. The New Zealand players are in a huddle before they take their positions in the field. Dilruwan Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva walk out to resume their innings. Ajaz Patel to bowl the first over of the day.

Trent Boult is caught down for a little interview with Ramiz Raja. Boult tells that they cannot control the weather but hopes that they can do well whenever there is a window of play. Trent says if they can get themselves ahead of the game then they can manage to win this. On being asked if the rotation of strike irritates him, Trent admits that the Sri Lankan players know the ground and conditions better. Adds that it is difficult as a seamer to bowl in these conditions as there is very little swing available. Trent further adds that playing in different conditions has given him an idea how to bowl in different conditions. On his 250 Test wickets, Boult says that he is happy to achieve this feat but hopes to get more wickets.

PITCH REPORT - Kyle Mills is down with the pitch report. Mills reminds us only 66 overs have been bowled and hence the pitch is relatively new. Informs the curator has not been able to work on the pitch as it has been under cover. Further adds that due to this reason the footmarks are still fresh. Mills thinks as the game progresses, the spinners will come more into play.

Welcome to the coverage of the 2nd Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. We are into Day 3 and Sri Lanka continue to bat. No, they have not batted 150 overs or more they have just batted for just 66 overs so far. In one session we got on Day 2, it was the Kiwis who dominated. They have put Sri Lanka on the back foot and will look to wrap up the tail as quickly as possible. Dhananjaya de Silva holds the key for the hosts and the onus will be on him if they are to reach close to 250. The day looks brighter than the 2 days we have got in this Test. It will be interesting to see how New Zealand approach this day as once again rain is predicted to spoil the fun later on.

... Day 3, Morning Session ...

As far as the Kiwis are concerned, they will aim to get the Lankans out as quickly as possible and try and outscore them before Sunday and then aim to bowl them out on Monday to make the series 1-1. Looks farfetched. Join us on Saturday at 9.45 am local (0415 GMT) for all the action from Day 3. (Hoping that there will be plenty). ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Just 29.3 overs possible on Day 2 then, which means that this Test is more or less going in one direction. NOWHERE. With 3 days left and all 4 innings still to be completed, it would need a miracle to get a result from here. Sri Lanka would want Dhananjaya and Perera to get some runs under their belt and then go through the motions till Monday, weather permitting.

UPDATE - 3.35 pm local (1005 GMT) - Nothing to update. Nothing, really. The rain has won the day and it is STUMPS ON DAY 2. It has been raining incessantly and the umpires have said that enough is enough, abandoning play for the day.

UPDATE 1400 Local (0830 GMT) - Seems like rain is the one winning this Test match as it continues to torture us with its presence.

UPDATE 1320 Local (0750 GMT) - Not a good news. It is still raining in Colombo and now the whole ground has once again gone under covers. It is not a heavy rain so that's a positive. But this will be a long delay as even once the rain stops it will take more than 40 minutes for us to start again.

... Day 2, Session 2 ....

Nothing much to talk about Sri Lanka's batting in this session. Apart from skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva the rest have failed to deliver. The much talked about middle order batting once again showed signs of crumbling. Dhananjaya de Silva is still out in the middle and has showed good fight. Yes, he was lucky when he was put down by Boult but other than that he has looked solid so far. The hosts will be eyeing at least 250, whereas the visitors will be looking to restrict them under 200. Who will be successful? Join us after the break to find out in the second session.

A session which clearly belonged to the visitors. New Zealand did not give away any free runs and that built the pressure in the process. One would have thought the spinners will be the key but it has been the pacers that have done the damage. Boult and Southee were excellent picking up two wickets apiece in the day. The latter showed his stamina as well as he bowled a long spell to finish the session.

It has started to rain and the umpires have smartly called for Lunch as well. The officials have been really on the mark with their decisions in this Test.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Good length ball outside off, DP leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Very well defended. It is short on the body, Perera hops and does well to keep it out.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. On the pads, Perera flicks it to square leg.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Very well bowled short one. It is around off, Perera hops and keeps his bat hanging. Unluckily for Southee, Dilruwan does not glove it.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Good length ball on off, Perera defends it with a straight bat.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Shorter on off, de Silva punches it to the off side for one.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. On off, Dilruwan keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. On the pads, Dilruwan flicks it towards mid-wicket for a couple.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Flights one on off, Perera keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Tossed up and spinning away. It pitches on middle and off, Dilruwan looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge. Perera played it with soft hands and hence it falls short of the man at first slip.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Flighted on off, Perera keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Tossed up on off, Dhananjaya comes down the track and strokes it to long off for one.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. On a good length and outside off, Perera leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Bowls a bouncer again, Perera ducks underneath it.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Bowls a bouncer, Dilruwan does well to duck under it.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Full on middle, Perera drives it through mid on. The batsmen pick up a couple.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Good length delivery on middle, Perera defends it off the back foot.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short ball on off, Dhananjaya pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket for one.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Flighted on off, DP does well to defend it and fight out another over.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Shorter on off, Dilruwan punches it to cover.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Floated on the stumps, Perera plants his front foot forward and blocks it.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Flights one on off, Perera drives it nicely but straight to the man at cover.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Shorter on middle, Perera strokes it to mid on.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Flighted on off, Dilruwan defends it off the front foot.

The physio is out in the middle, having a check on Dilruwan's finger. Cause of concern for Sri Lanka as the blow he has copped is on his bowling finger.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Length delivery outside off, Dilruwan runs it down to backward point and gets off the mark. He shall keep the strike too.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Back of a length ball around the body, Perera looks to defend but the ball hits him on flush on the glove and then onto his thigh pad.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Two bouncers sandwiched between two full balls. This is smart bowling. It is around off, DP sits under it.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. On the stumps, Dilruwan does well to block that away.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Fuller on off, Dilruwan keeps it out.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Bouncer! It is closer to the body, Perera ducks under it.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. On the stumps, Dhananjaya keeps it out to get through the over.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Floated on off, Silva looks to defend but does so off the inner half of his bat.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. On the pads, Dhananjaya flicks it to square leg.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Flights one on off, Dhananjaya keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Floated on off, de Silva defends it off the front foot this time.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Peach! Ajaz bowls it slower through the air on off, de Silva looks to defend but the ball spins and grips away and beats the outside edge all ends up.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Excellent fielding! It is the skipper, Kane Williamson. Fuller on off, Perera looks to defend but it finds the outside edge and goes to the left of backward point. Williamson there dives to that side and saves runs for his side. 100 marks for the effort.

Tim Southee to Dilruwan Perera. Beauty! Full on off, drives the batsman forward to defend. The ball then tails away and beats the batsman comprehensively.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Back of a length ball on off, de Silva pulls it towards mid-wicket for one.

The third man has come very fine now. Like the first slip has gone deep, that is how fine it is.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Fuller on off, de Silva defends it off the front foot.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short again, this one does not rise onto the batsman. De Silva pulls it to mid-wicket.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. TOP EDGE AND FOUR! Short ball on middle and off, Dhananjaya goes for the pull but gets a top edge which flies fine down the leg side. It is in no man's land and goes away to the fence.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Loopy delivery outside off, Perera looks to defend but misses it.

Ajaz Patel to Dilruwan Perera. Flighted delivery on middle, Perera defends it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Tossed up on off, Dhananjaya comes forward and drives it towards mid off for a run.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Floated delivery on middle, Dhananjaya defends it off the back foot.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Flighted delivery on off, de Silva defends it off the front foot.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Tossed up on off, Dhananjaya comes down the track and plays it to mid off.

Dilruwan Perera is the new batsman in.

Tim Southee to Niroshan Dickwella. OUT! Caught! Second wicket in the over for Southee. Just like Boult did earlier in the day, Southee too has turned the game in just one over. Fuller delivery pitching on off, the ball tails away after hitting the deck. Dickwella goes for the drive but ends up getting a thick outside edge straight to the keeper. Watling makes no mistake. Dickwella walks without troubling the scorers. Sri Lanka lose wickets in cluster once again. By the looks of it another middle order collapse looks on the cards.

Tim Southee to Niroshan Dickwella. On the fifth stump line, Dickwella shoulders arms to it.

Tim Southee to Niroshan Dickwella. Very full outside off, Dickwella initially looks to go after it but then leaves it alone.

Niroshan Dickwella is the new man in.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. OUT! Edged and taken! Massive wicket for New Zealand. It is the Sri Lankan skipper and their best batter, Dimuth Karunaratne. Full ball outside off, Dimuth has been leaving those but on occasions when he has gone for the drive he has missed and been lucky but this time Lady Luck has evaded him. He goes for the drive but ends up getting a thick outside edge which goes to the left of the wicketkeeper. BJ Watling moves across to that side and takes a simple catch. End of a fabulous innings from the skipper. He will be gutted not to get another century.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on off, Karunaratne pushes it to mid off.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Karunaratne leaves it alone.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Flighted on off, de Silva blocks it to get through the over.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Floats one on off, de Silva keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short and spinning away, de Silva waits and defends it late under his eyes.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Inside edge to the rescue. Tossed up on off, de Silva prods forward to defend but the ball spins in and hits the pad. There is a stifled appeal but nothing from the umpire. Replays later on confirm there was a thick inside edge.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Flighted on off, de Silva keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Dimuth Karunaratne. Tossed up on off, Dimuth comes down the track and takes it as a full toss. Karunaratne milks it to long on for one.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. On a good length on middle, Dhananjaya defends it out.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Outside off, Dhananjaya lets it go.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full and outside off, Karunaratne drives it through covers. The batsmen take a run.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length delivery on off, Dimuth blocks it off the back foot.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Full and outside off, Dhananjaya drives it towards mid off for a quick single.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. On a good length on off, Karunaratne taps it towards point for a single.

Ajaz Patel to Dhananjaya de Silva. Shorter on off, this one spins in to the right-hander. De Silva taps it towards third man against the spin for a single.

Ajaz Patel to Dimuth Karunaratne. Once again Diimuth comes down the track but this time he strokes it to cover for one.

Ajaz Patel to Dimuth Karunaratne. Short and quick around off, Karunaratne looks to play it late but it hits him on the thigh pad.

Ajaz Patel to Dimuth Karunaratne. Tossed up on off, DK blocks it.

Ajaz Patel to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fighted outside off, Karunaratne looks to defend but the ball spins in and hits him on the pad outside off. There is a stifled appeal but nothing from the umpire.

Ajaz Patel to Dimuth Karunaratne. DROPPED! Had Williamson taken that, it would have been a blinder. Tossed up around off, Karunartane comes down the track and flicks it uppishly to the right of short mid-wicket. Kane Williamson there stretches and gets his hands on the ball but he fails to bask it in. Would have been an absolute stunner had he held onto it.

Spinner into the attack for the first time today. Ajaz Patel is on now.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Non swinging ball outside off, de Silva leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Fuller on off, de Silva defends it off the outer half of his bat towards point.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short now, de Silva pulls it in a controlled manner towards deep mid-wicket for two.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Length delivery on off, de Silva keeps it out.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Full on off, de Silva defends it back to the bowler.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Bouncer around off, de Silva hops and pulls it towards mid-wicket. It falls in no man's land. The batsmen take a couple as the fielder from the deep mops it up.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Once again leaves the ball that is away from the stumps.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, tempting Dimuth to drive. Karunaratne is having none of it and leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dhananjaya de Silva. Pulls his length back and serves it on off, Dhananjaya punches it to cover-point for a run.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dhananjaya de Silva. Another full ball on the stumps, Dhananjaya keeps it out.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dhananjaya de Silva. De Grandhomme corrects his line and bowls it full on off. De Silva defends it off the front foot.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Third boundary for Dhananjaya de Silva. A rare loose delivery from Colin. He strays this down the leg side, Dhananjaya just flicks it with ease through fine leg for a boundary.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball outside off, it comes back in. Karunaratne goes for the flick but misses. The ball hits him high on his thigh pad and hence no appeal.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Karunaratne watches it carry to the keeper.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Pulls his length back and bowls it on off, de Silva punches it to cover for one.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Full on off, de Silva gets on his front foot and defends it.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Back of a length ball on off, de Silva defends it off the back foot.

Tim Southee to Dhananjaya de Silva. Starts with a full ball on off, de Silva defends it off the front foot.

Tim Southee replaces his pace bowling partner, Trent Boult. 12-4-22-0, his figures so far.

Drinks Break! The first hour has clearly belonged to New Zealand. They have scalped 2 wickets both falling to Boult. The smiling assassin should have had 3 but he put down a sitter. For Sri Lanka, it has been a testing hour but their skipper is paving the way for his side and has looked solid once again.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the fourth stump line, Dimuth shoulders arms to it to get to Drinks without any further damage.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Dimuth plants his front foot out and defends it classically.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Once again de Grandhomme serves it full on off, Dimuth drives it towards mid on as the bat turns in his hand.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full on middle, Karunaratne pushes it to mid on.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dhananjaya de Silva. Fuller on middle, de Silva flicks it to mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dhananjaya de Silva. On the fourth stump line, de Silva has nothing to do with it and leaves it alone.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short around off, de Silva pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Brilliant from Latham! Full on middle, Karunaratne flicks it through mid-wicket. Tom Latham runs in from deep mid-wicket and pulls it back before the ropes with a dive, saving a run in the process. With this 3, Karunaratne completes 12,000 runs in First Class cricket.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. The batsman has punched that ball through the off side.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Short ball around off, de Silva pulls it towards mid-wicket for one.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the pads, Dimuth looks to flick but the ball goes off his thigh pads towards the leg side for a leg bye.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the pads, Karunaratne flicks it to mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. On a good length on off, Karunaratne looks to defend but gets a leading edge. It goes towards point. The batsmen cross ends.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Karunaratne shoulders arms to this one.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full on middle, Karunaratne flicks it to mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length delivery outside off, Karunaratne leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full and outside off, the skipper drives it to mid off.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. On a good length and outside off, Karunaratne offers no shot.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Full ball on off, Dhananjaya defends it off the front foot to get through the over he shouldn't have got through. 1 run off the over, should have had one wicket as well!

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Outside off, Dhananjaya goes for the drive but misses.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. IN THE AIR...AND DROPPED! Boult cannot blame anyone else as he is the culprit himself. Everyone is shocked as Boult is one of the best fielders going around and he has put down a sitter. Back of a length ball on off, Dhananjaya goes for the flick but ends up getting a leading edge. He ends up ballooning it to side of the pitch on the leg side. Boult calls for it as the fielder from extra cover also comes in. Trent looks to take it with his fingers pointing towards the sky. It looks like an easy catch but Boult fumbles and puts down a sitter. Everyone is stunned!

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Fuller on off, Dhananjaya drives it off the inner half of his bat towards mid on.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Play and miss. Fuller outside off, de Silva goes for the drive but misses.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the pads, Karunaratne flicks it to the on side and gives the strike to Dhananjaya.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dhananjaya de Silva. EDGED AND FOUR! Unlucky for the bowler and you have to feel sorry for him. It is a very good ball. Full and swinging in around off, Dhananjaya de Silva goes for the drive but gets a thick inside edge. The ball just about misses the leg pole and races away to the fine leg fence. De Silva was unable to find the gaps but this time he has found one in an unlikely way.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Short ball on off, Dimuth pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. On middle, DK flicks it towards mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length delivery on off, Dimuth plays it to point.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. No ball! Third one from Colin de Grandhomme. He bowls it full on off, Karunaratne defends it off his front foot.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off on a length, Karunaratne comes down the track and then leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Close! Full outside off, Dimuth goes for the drive but misses. The ball was not far away from his outside edge.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length ball on off, Silva keeps it out.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Good length ball outside off, de Silva shoulders arms to it.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Fuller around off, Dhananjaya looks to drive it on the up but it goes towards square leg off the inner half of his bat.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Full ball on off, de Silva strokes it to mid on.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On top of off, Dhananjaya defends it with a straight bat towards mid on.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Another maiden from Colin de Grandhomme. The last ball is full on middle and off, Dimuth flicks it to mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on middle, Karunaratne pushes it to mid on.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Length ball around off, Dimuth punches it to point.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off on a length, Karunaratne leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on off, Karunaratne defends it off the front foot.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Length ball around off, Dimuth defends it calmly off his front foot.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Hits the deck hard on top of the stumps. De Silva blocks it to get through the over.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Follows the nervy boundary with a calm front foot defense.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. UPPISH AND FOUR! Good length ball on off and middle, the ball sticks onto the surface. Dhananjaya goes for the drive but does so uppishly. It goes wide to the right of Boult. He stretches his right arm out but cannot get close to the ball. The ball races away through mid on for a boundary.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Length ball around off, Dhananjaya punches it to cover.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on the pads, Karunaratne glances it to the on side and gets to the other end.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. On the pads, Dhananjaya flicks it to the on side and gets off the mark.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the pads, Dimuth flicks it but cannot go past mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Dimuth lets the ball go outside his off stump.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball on off, Dimuth defends it off the front foot.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Dimuth calms his nerves and leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. OHH! That was not far away from finding the outside edge. Full ball outside off, Karunaratne gets tempted to go for the drive. He goes for it but luckily for him the ball just about misses the outside edge of the Sri Lankan skipper's bat.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Dimuth shoulders arms to this one.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. NO BALL! Colin de Grandhomme oversteps! On a good length and outside off, Karunaratne looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Trent Boult to Dhananjaya de Silva. Hits the deck hard on off, Silva defends it to get through the over. An excellent over from Boult. He has jolted the Sri Lankan batting lineup here.

Dhananjaya de Silva walks out next.

Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. OUT! LBW! Second wicket in the over for Trent Boult. Kusal has completely misread that one and that has outdone him. Boult steams in and bowls it on a length on off. Kusal expects it to move away and hence he shoulders arms to this one. The ball though comes in and hits the back leg of Perera. New Zealand players put in a huge appeal and the umpire agrees. Perera and Dimuth have a discussion and they opt against the review. Good decision as that looked plumb to the naked eye. Hawk Eye shows that Kusal Perera would have had to continue his walk as the ball was going onto clip the stumps. But one cannot leave such ball on a sub-continental wicket as the ball does not bounce here as much as other countries.

Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. On the pads, Perera looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pad.

Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. Fuller on off, Kusal looks to drive but it goes off the bottom edge towards mid off.

Trent Boult to Kusal Perera. Excellent ball to welcome a new batsman. No one likes to face a yorker first up but Perera had to do just that. Kusal does well to dig it out.

Kusal Perera is the new man in at number 4.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. OUT! Caught! 250th Test wicket for Trent Boult. This was not the best of balls that Boult has bowled but he will take it with both hands. Trent surprises Mathews with the length as he bangs this one short. It is close to the body but down the leg side. Mathews goes for the pull but ends up getting a fat edge to the left of the keeper. BJ Watling moves to his left and puts a half dive to take a good catch. New Zealand needed early wickets and they have got their first one of the day.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on middle, Karunaratne defends it properly from the middle of his bat.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Fuller ball around off, Mathews looks to drive but it zips away a tad and goes off the leading edge towards point for one.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller around off once again, Karunaratne drives it towards point and gets to the other end.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Dimuth has no business with it.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full on off, Karunaratne drives it to the right of cover. Southee dives and deflects the ball. Latham behind gets wrong-footed due to the deflection allowing the batsman to take two.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on off, Karunaratne defends it off the inner half of his bat towards mid-wicket.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length ball around off, Dimuth punches it towards cover and keeps the strike.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full on off, Dimuth looks to drive but it goes to cover off the outer half of his bat.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full on off, Karunaratne nudges it to mid on as the bat turns in his hand.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length ball on off and middle, Dimuth strokes it to cover-point.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on the stumps, Karunaratne defends it off the front foot.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On a good length on off, Karunaratne blocks it off the back foot.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Hits the deck hard on off, Angelo keeps it out.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Back of a length on off, Mathews defends it off the back foot.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. On the fourth stump line, Angelo shoulders arms to it.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. FIFTY FOR KARUNARATNE. His 23rd in Test cricket. The skipper continues his good form and once again leads his troops from the front. In testing conditions, Dimuth chose to bat and he is paving the path for his teammates to follow. He gets to the milestone by tapping this length ball towards the backward point region and getting to the other end. He raises his bat in appreciation and soaks in all the well deserved applause.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Dimuth is in no hurry to get to his fifty and leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball outside off, it tails in a bit. Dimuth plants his front foot forward and looks to defend but the ball takes an inside edge onto his pads.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Fuller this time on off. Angelo pushes it to mid off.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Maintains the same line and length. Mathews defends it with a straight bat.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Once again bowls it on a length around off, Mathews punches it to cover.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Good length ball pitching on off. It moves away just a hint. Mathews prods forward to defend it with soft hands. The ball takes the outside edge and goes to second slip on a bounce.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Starts with a back of a length ball on off, Mathews defends it off his back foot.

Trent Boult to partner Colin de Grandhomme this morning.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Mathews is off the mark. It has taken him 18 balls to get the scoreboard ticking. It is on the pads, Mathews glances it towards fine leg and keeps the strike with a single. End of an over which technically lasted more than 8 hours.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. No ball! Seldom you see a medium pacer overstep. It is full on middle, Mathews blocks it towards mid on.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Pulls his length back just a hint and bowls it outside off. Angelo leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Starts the new day with a fuller ball on off. Angelo gets on his front foot and pushes it to cover.

We are all set to start Day 2. Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews walk out to resume their innings. Mathews is yet to get off the mark. He will be on strike. Colin de Grandhomme to finish off his incomplete over. Just a reminder he bowled 3 balls yesterday before Bad light stopped play.

Kyle Mills is down with the pitch report. Mills says that even though it looks wet the pitch is not that wet. Reminds us that the wicket was hard yesterday and today it is the same. Mills though adds that it was slow in nature. Kyle reckons it is due to the density of the wicket which makes it slower.

Everything is clear and we are almost ready to start play. Remember that the Lunch will be taken at 1245 Local.

UPDATE 0945 Local (0415 GMT) - Not a good news to begin with but also not as bad as last night. It was raining overnight and earlier in the morning. It has stopped raining now though and the groundstaff are slowly peeling the covers off. The surrounding areas are the concern as they are wet. The players are out doing the warmups and we will have a delay of around 45 minutes.

Kyle Mills down with the weather and ground report. Mills starts by saying that it is overcast. Mills then has a check on the outfield and he says that the outfield is still rock hard and credits the groundstaff for the way they have done their work. Supreme effort, truly.

Welcome to the coverage of Day 2 of the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. It was rain that stole the show on Day 1, winning almost 2 sessions. In the little play we got, it was once again a closely fought contest. Yes Sri Lanka have lost two wickets but their star batter and skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne is still fighting it out in the middle. He is joined by the experienced Angelo Mathews. The duo holds the key here for the hosts. New Zealand, on the other hand, will be looking to break this stand and put the inconsistent middle order of Sri Lanka to test. Early blows will be vital here. The question is can New Zealand get through the defenses of Dimuth and Angelo? The weather once again looks dodgy for the day but as a cricket fan one can just pray and hope that the rain gods have mercy.

... Day 2, Session 1 ...

That is it from Day 1. Join us on Friday, 23rd August 2019 for Day 2 of this intriguing Test. It will be an early start so make sure you join us at 0945 Local (0415 GMT). Let us hope that unlike Day 1, the weather stays clear and we get no interruptions. See you all on Day 2. Till then, cheers!

5 bowlers were used for New Zealand for their 36.3 overs. All bowlers bowled really well and hardly gave the hosts any freebies. De Grandhomme impressed the most with the ball and rightfully got a wicket to his name. Somerville was the other one to be into the wickets column.

After winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bat. Karunaratne and Thirimanne took their time to start but for the latter the start never came and he departed for just 2 consuming 35 balls. Kusal Mendis and the Sri Lankan skipper then steadied the ship and added a 50-run stand. Mendis though once again failed to convert his start. That was the last set of action as the day that began with rain ended with bad light.

That will be STUMPS on Day 1. The day that began with disappointment has ended in similar fashion too. The start was delayed for a long, long while due to rain. But kudos to the groundstaff, they worked hard and ensured that we did get some play and did not leave empty-handed.

Well the umpires are having a word with one another as it is getting dark here. And they are not happy with it and the players are walking off the field.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Full and swinging away. Mathews pushes it off the inner half of his bat towards mid off.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball around off, Karunaratne runs it down to third man for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full on off, Dimuth pushes it to mid off.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. On the pads, Mathews looks to flick but once again misses. This one hits him high on the thigh pad.

Trent Boult to Angelo Mathews. Good bowling this. Pitches it on middle and makes the ball to tail in. Mathews looks to flick but gets a leading edge which goes all along the ground towards point.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the pads, Dimuth nudges it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. This time defends it right of the middle.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Length ball around off, Dimuth looks to defend it with soft hands but ends up getting a thick outside edge which goes to the left of first slip. The fielder there dives and saves runs for his team.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball around off, Karunaratne defends it to cover.

Trent Boult is back for another spell. 6-2-19-0 so far.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. A length ball outside off, moving away off the deck, Angelo defends watchfully.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Outside off, left alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Full and straight, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Karunaratne looks to punch it through the off side but gets a thick inside edge which goes past the stumps towards square leg. A single taken.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Landed outside off, steered towards third man. William Somerville gives it a good chase from backward point and slides to his right to stop the ball. Two runs taken.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Landed outside off, punched straight to cover.

Tim Southee to Angelo Mathews. Landed outside off, well kept out.

Tim Southee to Angelo Mathews. Outside off, left alone.

Tim Southee to Angelo Mathews. Full and outside off, Mathews shoulders arms.

Tim Southee to Angelo Mathews. Another watchful shot, this time leaving the ball to the keeper.

Tim Southee to Angelo Mathews. Around off, solidly defended back to the bowler.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. A short ball, around middle, Karunaratne swivels and pulls it through square leg where the fielder fumbles but recovers quickly. Just a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Good length ball on off, Mathews blocks it off the front foot. End of a good over from Southee. A wicket maiden.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Good length ball outside off, Mathews watches it carry to the keeper.

Colin de Grandhomme to Angelo Mathews. Full on off, Mathews starts his innings with a solid front foot defense.

Angelo Mathews is the new man in.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. OUT! Caught! Colin de Grandhomme breaks the 50-run stand. A gentle delivery just outside off, it moves away just a hint. Moves enough to trouble the batter. Kusal Mendis is drawn forward to defend but not completely committed to the cause. He still goes ahead with it and gets a thin outside edge straight to the keeper. Watling takes a sitter and once again Mendis fails to make the use of his start.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Good length ball on off, Mendis defends it to mid off.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Length delivery around off, Mendis defends it towards point and shouts a loud no.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. On off, Karunaratne punches it to cover.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball outside off, Karunaratne leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on off, Karunaratne pushes it to mid off.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball outside off, Karunaratne leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Safely in! Brings up the 50-run stand between the two with some hiccup. Good length ball on the pads, Karunaratne flicks it towards square leg and calls for two. They run the first one hard and go for the second. The fielder gets to the ball quickly and sends it to the bowler's end. Southee takes the bails off and the umpire takes it upstairs. One replay is enough to confirm that Kusal Mendis is well in.

Is that a run out? No one seems excited. Replays tell why. Kusal Mendis is yards in.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Good length ball on off, Mendis tucks it to mid-wicket for one.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length ball on off, Karunaratne defends it off his back foot to get through the over.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full on off, Dimuth pushes it to cover.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Pulls his length back and bowls outside off, Mendis punches it towards sweeper cover and gets to the other end. His first run of this session.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Full on off, Kusal looks to defend but it goes to the on side off the inner half of his defensive bat.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. On off and middle this time, Kusal defends it towards cover.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Starts his new spell with a fuller ball outside off, Mendis leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to partner Southee.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller and on the 5th stump line. DK lets it carry to the keeper.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Away from the off pole, DK shoulders arms to it.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Tempting Karunaratne to drive by bowling outside off. Dimuth is having none of it.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball on the 4th stump line, Karunaratne has no business with it.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Now calmly leaves this one alone outside off.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. FOUR! Sri Lanka are back for the new session with a bang! Overpitched ball around off, Dimuth gets on his front foot and creams his drive through extra cover for a boundary.

Yippiee!! The covers are off and we are all set to restart. Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis walk out to resume their innings. Tim Southee to bowl the first over of the new session. Just FYI, the session is extended till 1830 local (No, we are not joking). That will be a serious challenge to the light.

No! no! no!!! The covers are on and we will have a further delay. It is not raining at the moment but looks like it is a precautionary measure. The whole ground is not covered at the moment. It looks like the groundsmen are anticipating it to pour.

... Day 1, Session 3 ...

New Zealand have managed to get one wicket and have been successful in not allowing Sri Lanka any easy runs. Somerville has been the only bowler so far in the wickets column. The hosts, on the other hand, will be happy having lost just a wicket. Mendis and their skipper, Karunaratne have looked good out in the middle and have managed to put the bad balls away. The duo has added 42 runs and will look to continue their good work. Join us in a while for the last session of the day as it promises to be an exciting clash.

TEA! An even first session here in Colombo. Just in case you are wondering that how is it Tea and first session then let me remind you that rain delayed the start by more than 3 hours.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Loopy ball on off, Mendis strokes it back towards the bowler to get through the over and the 1st session of the day.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Shorter on off, Kusal punches it to cover.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Floated on off, Mendis defends it.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Floated on off, Mendis defends it to get through the over.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Tossed up on middle, Kusal keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Floats one on off, Mendis defends it classically.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. On middle, Kusal glances it to the on side and keeps the strike.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Full on off, Mendis defends it off the front foot.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Good length ball around off, Kusal taps it to gully.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Outside off, KM leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Good length ball on off, Kusal keeps it out.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Very well controlled pull this from Karunaratne. Back of a length ball around off, Dimuth pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Follows the boundary with a solid block.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. FOUR! Comical effort from Raval. Shorter on off, Mendis punches it through cover-point. Raval goes chasing after it and looks to pull it back but he tumbles and the ball races away to the fence.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. No spin yet for Ajaz. He tosses it up on off, Kusal keeps it out.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. On off, Mendis blocks it out.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Flighted on off, Mendis defends it off his front foot.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Floated on off, Mendis keeps it out.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length ball on off, Dimuth defends it off the front foot.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Lethargic from Watling. Good length ball outside off, Mendis leaves it alone. Watling loses his concentration and fails to take it. The ball deflects off his gloves away from the slip. Allowing them to take a bye.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Full on off, Mendis drives it to the left of Southee. He puts his left hand out but cannot keep it cleanly as the ball goes to mid off.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. On the stumps, Kusal defends it towards mid on off the inner half of his bat.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Fuller on off, Mendis defends it with a straight bat.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Length ball around off, Mendis tucks it towards mid-wicket off the inner half of his bat for a run.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. On off, Kusal blocks to get through the over.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Loopy full toss outside off, Mendis misses out on it as he hits it straight to cover.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Tossed up outside off, Mendis strokes it towards cover.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Floated on off, Mendis lunges forward and blocks it.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis. Short on middle. Mendis picks the length early and pulls it through mid-wicket for a couple.

Ajaz Patel to Dimuth Karunaratne. Starts with a flighted delivery on off. Karunaratne comes down the track and strokes it wide of mid on for one.

Ajaz Patel is introduced into the attack.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Outside off, Mendis lets it carry to the keeper.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Good length delivery on off, Mendis defends it off the back foot.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Good length ball on off, Mendis defends it towards point and calls for a single. Dimuth though is quick to refuse it and rightfully so as that would have been nothing but just a suicidal run.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Mendis continues to find the gaps here. Length ball around off, Kusal cuts it through point and gets a couple.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Beauty! Southee steams in and pitches it around off. Mendis looks to defend but the ball zips back in viciously. It cuts Mendis in half and just about misses the off pole.

Tim Southee to Kusal Mendis. Good length ball on off and middle, Mendis glances it through mid-wicket for a couple.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Once again short, Mendis pulls it towards square leg and keeps the strike.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Floated on off, Mendis keeps it out.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. FOUR! Uppish but just wide. Short on middle and leg, Mendis goes on his back foot and initially looks to sweep. He sees the ball is short so he pulls it wide of backward square leg for a boundary. The fielder dived but had no chance.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Short around off, Mendis waits for it and then runs it down towards backward point. The fielder from deep point cleans it up. Two taken. That also brings up the 50 for Sri Lanka.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Flights one on off, Kusal bends his back and blocks it.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Shorter on middle, Mendis tucks it to square leg.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. The line and length is the same but this time Karunaratne drives it to mid off.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full around off, Karunaratne drives it off the inner half of his bat straight to mid on.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full outside off, Karunaratne shoulders arms to it.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the fourth stump line, Dimuth leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. One more delivery outside off. This is closer to the off pole but Karunaratne shoulders arms to it.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Starts his new spell with a good length ball outside off, Karunaratne leaves it alone.

Tim Southee is back on!

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Follows it up with a calm defense to get through the over.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. FOUR! Short and rightfully punished. It is on the leg side, a rare loose delivery from Somerville. Mendis is not gonna miss out on that. He gets on his back foot and swivels it to pull through the vacant square leg region for a boundary.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Flighted on off, Karunaratne pushes it to cover for a run.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. On the pads, Mendis flicks it to the on side for a single.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Shorter on the pads, Kusal tucks it behind square on the leg side.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Short outside off, Dimuth cuts it against the spin towards point for one.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. On middle, Mendis flicks it to mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Misfield! Full on middle and off, Kusal strokes it to the right of mid on. Jeet Raval there moves to that side but cannot get down in time. The ball goes past him allowing them to take couple.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Outside off, Mendis leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Fuller on off, Mendis strokes it towards mid off. The fielder there dives to his right and saves a certain boundary.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Back of a length ball on off, Mendis defends it off the front foot.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Fuller on off, Mendis defends it off the front foot.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Floats one on off, Karunaratne taps it back towards Somerville.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Short and turning in to the batter. Mendis gets on his back foot and pulls it towards deep square leg for a single.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Tossed up on off, Karunaratne comes down the track and milks it towards long on for one.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Flighted on the stumps, Karunaratne defends it off the front foot.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Follows it up with a calm front foot defense.

Not a good sign. The groundstaff are seen moving around the boundary line.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. FOUR! Smart batting this from the Sri Lankan skipper. Short and spinning away. Dimuth waits and then opens his face of the bat towards the third man region for a boundary.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Good length ball on off, Mendis keeps it out.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Now calmly leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. EDGED AND FOUR! Good length ball swinging away from the batter. Mendis looks to defend but once again gets a thick outside edge. The ball goes between slip and gully and to the fence. Kusal continues to struggle with getting proper timing.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Outside off and this time Mendis calmly leaves it.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Good length ball on off, Kusal looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge which goes on a bounce towards slip.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Fuller on off, Mendis looks to flick but the ball takes the leading edge towards cover.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Flighted delivery on off, Dimuth drives it back towards the bowler.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Tossed up delivery on off, Karunaratne blocks it well.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Loopy delivery on middle, Karunaratne flicks it towards short leg.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Floated delivery on off, the skipper keeps it out.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Tossed up on off, Karunaratne drives it to mid off.

William Somerville to Dimuth Karunaratne. Flighted delivery on off, Karunaratne defends it off the back foot.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Back of a length ball on off, Mendis keeps it out to get through the over.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Edged but safe! Also very well stopped by Southee. Good length ball around off, Mendis looks to defend but the ball moves away and takes the outside edge of Kusal's willow. It goes on a bounce to the right of Southee at second slip. Tim dives and does really well to save runs for his side.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Full again on middle and leg, Kusal defends it to mid on.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Fuller on middle, Mendis flicks to mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Kusal Mendis. Good length ball outside off, it swings away just a bit. Mendis reads it and leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Length ball outside off, Karunaratne cuts it through point for a single.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Flighted on off, Mendis bends his back and keeps it out.

William Somerville to Kusal Mendis. Floated on off, Mendis starts his innings off the front foot.

Kusal Mendis walks out at number 3.

Drinks Break! New Zealand have just managed to get a breakthrough. Dimuth Karunaratne has looked strong in the middle though. He holds the key here for Sri Lanka. New Zealand will now look to keep chipping away with the wickets.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. OUT! Caught! Soft dismissal for Thirimanne. Similiar to the way Dimuth got out in the first innings of the first Test. Somerville tosses it up on off, the ball comes slower than Thirimanne expected. He is early in his push and he ends up chipping it straight to cover. New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson there takes a simple catch. 35 balls for just 2 runs for Thirimanne. All that patience, a dropped catch but for nothing.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. Short again on off, Thirimanne defends it off the back foot.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. Short and spinning away, Thirimanne strokes it with the spin towards point.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. Floated on off, Thirimanne pushes it to mid off.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on off, Dimuth taps it back to the bowler.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Karunaratne has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball on off, Dimuth punches it to cover-point.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full on middle, Karunaratne flicks it towards mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Karunaratne leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Edged but falls short. Good length ball on off, Dimuth looks to defend but the ball shapes away and takes the outside edge. It falls short off the man at first slip. Just before this ball de Grandhomme wanted Taylor to come a little more further.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. Floated around off, Lahiru blocks it away.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. Shorter on off, Thirimanne defends it with a straight bat.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. Floated on off, Lahiru keeps it out.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. DROPPED! Tough chance but Thirimanne has got a lifeline here. Short and spins away just a bit. Thirimanne looks to cut but the ball stays low and kisses the inside edge of the bat. It hits BJ Watling's glove but he fails to take it.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. Flighted on off, Lahiru defends it off the front foot.

William Somerville to Lahiru Thirimanne. Floated on middle and off, Thirimanne strokes it to mid off.

William Somerville is into the attack.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Dot to finish the over. Length delivery outside off, Dimuth shoulders arms to it.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Direct hit but no issue. Good length ball around off, Karunaratne strokes it towards point and takes a single. The fielder then scores a direct hit at the keeper's end. The ball ricochets off the stumps and goes behind allowing them to take one more.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. On middle, Karunaratne flicks it to mid-wicket.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Dimuth punches it off the inner half of his bat towards point.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. On a length outside off, Karunaratne leaves it alone.

Colin de Grandhomme to Dimuth Karunaratne. Starts with a good length ball on off and middle, Dimuth defends it towards mid-wicket.

First change of the day. Colin de Grandhomme is into the attack.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. On middle and leg, Lahiru tucks it towards square leg.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. Back of a length ball on off, Thirimanne defends it off the back foot.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. Fuller on middle, Thirimanne strokes it to mid on.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good fielding! Back of a length ball around off, Karunaratne hops and guides it through third man. Nicholls and Williamson go after it. Nicholls dives and pulls it before the ropes. He lays it behind to Williamson. Saves a run for his side.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball on off, Karunaratne defends it off the back foot.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. Length delivery on middle, Thirimanne flicks it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full ball outside off, DK shoulders arms to one more ball that is outside off. Classical Test match batting.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller and going away with the angle, Karunaratne defends it with the angle towards cover.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Length ball on off, Karunaratne defends it with a straight bat.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Shorter around the body, first short ball this. Karunaratne ducks under it.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on off, Karunaratne pushes it to mid off.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller outside off, Karunaratne leaves it alone.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Full on off and middle, Karunaratne flicks it through mid-wicket. The outfield was covered so it is not as slow as it would have been in other parts of the world. The ball still does not have the legs to reach the fence. The fielder cleans it up. The batters meanwhile come back for the third.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball on off, the Sri Lankan skipper defends it towards mid on.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Karunaratne will hardly ever go after that one. He shoulders arms to it in a typical Test match fashion.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on off, Dimuth shows that he is in good form as once again he defends it right off the middle of his willow.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Good length ball around off, Karunaratne keeps it out of his back foot.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Away swinger full on off, Dimuth gets right behind the ball and defends it solidly towards mid off.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Full on middle, LT defends it off the middle of his bat towards mid on.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Play and a miss! Southee bowls it full outside off, Thirimanne's eyes lit up looking at the line outside off. Lahiru goes for the drive but luckily does not get a feather on it to the keeper.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Length delivery closer to the off pole, Thirimanne taps it towards gully.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Very full on middle, Lahiru does well to get his bat down in time and keep it out.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. On the fourth stump line, Thirimanne shoulders arms to it.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Good length ball outside off, Thirimanne leaves it alone.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On off, Karunaratne defends it to get through the over.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. FOUR! Crunched away! This is how you respond to an LBW call. Good length ball outside off, Karunaratne picks it early and slams it over the point fielder for a boundary.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Just a bit too high. Good length ball pitching on off, Karunaratne strides forward to defend but the ball nips in sharply. Dimuth misses his defense and the ball hits him high on the pads. There is a huge appeal but nothing form the umpire.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Length ball on top of off, Dimuth defends it off the back foot towards point.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Non swinger outside off, Karunaratne shoulders arms to it.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. On the pads, Thirimanne looks to flick but the ball goes off his pad fine down the leg side. The batsmen take a single as BJ Watling cleans it up.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Ohh! Length ball outside off, Dimuth initially looks to play but then decides to leave in the last minute. He is late though as the ball hits the lower half of his bat. Luckily for him there is no casualty.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on middle and off, Dimuth flicks it but finds mid-wicket.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Another calm leave from Karunaratne outside his off pole.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length ball outside off, Dimuth leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Hits the deck outside off, it comes in but Karunaratne shows his calm and awareness and leaves it alone.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. EDGED AND FOUR! Another edge from Karunaratne which goes between second slip and gully. Fuller on off, Dimuth looks to defend with soft hands. The ball zips away and takes the fat outside edge of Karunaratne's bat. It dissects slip and gully and races away to the fence.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. Length ball on middle, Thirimanne blocks it off the front foot.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. No swing on this one as this starts on the 4th stump line and goes straight to the keeper.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. Good length ball outside off, it nips back in but Thirimanne is aware of his off pole and leaves it alone.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. Back of a length delivery on off, Thirimanne gets on his back foot and blocks it.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. On top of off, Lahiru blocks it off the front foot.

Trent Boult to Lahiru Thirimanne. Good length ball on off, Thirimanne defends it right of the middle.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the 4th stump line, Karunaratne has no business with it.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on off, Dimuth keeps it out.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Length ball outside off, Karunaratne shoulders arms to it.

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length ball on off and middle, Karunaratne keeps his eyes on the ball and pulls it in a controlled manner through mid-wicket for a couple.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. On a length on middle, Thirimanne flicks it towards square leg for a run.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Southee bowls it on the pads, Thirimanne looks to flick but gets it off the pads. It goes towards the keeper.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Karunaratne has nothing to do with it and leaves it alone. 8 off the over.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Back of a length ball on off, Dimuth keeps it out.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Now calmly defends it right off the meat towards cover.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. EDGED AND FOUR! Boult bowls an away swinger pitching on off, Karunaratne looks to defend but ends up edging it. He though plays it with soft hands, meaning that even though the ball takes the outside edge it goes all along the ground, between gully and point for a boundary.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Follows it up with a calm and sensible leave outside off.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. FOUR! Sri Lanka are underway! Length ball around off, Karunaratne picks the length early and punches it wide of point. The fielder at point dives to his right but cannot stop the ball. The ball beats him and races away to the fence.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Maiden for Southee too to begin with. Good length ball outside off, Thirimanne leaves it alone. Sri Lanka yet to get off the mark.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Back of a length ball on off, Thirimanne defends it with a straight bat.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Southee misses his line and bowls one down the leg side. Lahiru goes for the flick but misses. BJ Watling behind the stumps, dives to his right and does well to save runs for his side.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Southee continues to bowl in the channel of off stump. Thirimanne keeps his focus and blocks it.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. On top of off, Thirimanne gets behind the ball and keeps it out.

Tim Southee to Lahiru Thirimanne. Southee starts with a good length ball on off, Thirimanne begins his innings with a solid back foot defense.

Tim Southee to bowl from the other end.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Outside off, Dimuth leaves it alone to get through the over. Maiden to begin with for New Zealand.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Once again Boult tempts Dimuth to drive but Karunaratne does not fall into the trap.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. On the fourth stump line, Karunaratne does not disturb that.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Fuller on off, Karunaratne blocks it off the front foot.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Hits the deck hard on off, there is hardly any movement on this one. Dimuth gets behind the ball and defends it off the front foot towards cover.

Trent Boult to Dimuth Karunaratne. Boult starts with a good length ball outside off, there is a hint of away swing on this one. Karunaratne leaves it alone to start off his innings.

We are all set to begin! After a lengthy delay we are ready. Sri Lanka skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne walks out with Lahiru Thirimanne to open the innings. Trent Boult to start the proceedings with the new ball.

New Zealand skipper Williamson says that it is important to make changes from the last game and do better. Admits that he was surprised by the way the wicket played in the last game as they expected the ball to spin but that did not happen. On the surface, Williamson tells that it looks like a good surface. On his team changes, Kane informs that Colin de Grandhomme comes in place of Mitchell Santner.

Sri Lanka skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne says that there will be some movement earlier on and if they bat through the stage then it will get better. Tells they are playing 3 spinners as they expect spinners to play a big part. Informs, Akila Dananjaya misses out and Dilruwan Perera comes in.

Kudos to the groundstaff who have done exceedingly well to get the ground ready though it was raining hammer and tongs. There will be 2 sessions played, each of 30 overs.

New Zealand Playing XI - Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (C), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (WK), Colin de Grandhomme (IN for Mitchell Santner), Tim Southee, William Somerville, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult.

Sri Lanka Playing XI - Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Dilruwan Perera (IN for Akila Dananjaya), Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Kumara.

TOSS - After a huge delay, we are finally ready for the toss. Sri Lanka skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne has the coin in hand. Up it goes and lands in favour of Karunaratne. SRI LANKA OPT TO BAT!

Welcome to the second and final Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The hosts are up and running in the World Test Championship after a good win against New Zealand. The hosts would look to make it two in two and whitewash the Kiwis. They have a bit of a bad news, with Akila Dananjaya reported for suspect bowling action. But he still has 14 days to play before the official verdict comes out. Dilruwan Perera looks likely to come in place of him. The visitors, on the other hand, will now look to get their campaign underway in this ICC World Test Championship. New Zealand were good in bits and pieces in the last game and their inability to win the crucial situations led to their downfall. It will be interesting to see if New Zealand make any changes or go with the same eleven. A crucial game for the Kiwis as if they fail to win this, they will find themselves lacking behind the pack in the standing. Apart from the weather everything looks exciting. If the rain gods don't interfere then we are up for another ride. Who will come out on top? Stay tuned to find out as the toss is not far away.

The highlight of New Zealand's innings has to be Tom Latham's inspiring century. With the wickets falling around him, the southpaw constructed valuable stands and his 143-run partnership with BJ Watling took the Kiwis out of troubled waters. Post the dismissal of Latham, Colin de Grandhomme batted aggressively and we witnessed yet another century stand to help New Zealand take a handy lead. Sri Lanka started well with the ball but failed to maintain the same intensity. Also, it was tough to adjust to the stop-start nature of the game due to all the rain. 91 overs to go in the day, let's wait and find out the approach of the Lankan batsmen. The onus is on New Zealand to take the initiative as Sri Lanka have the lead in this series and won't mind a draw here. Stay tuned for their reply.

Here comes the declaration from Kane Williamson! They batted for 5 overs this morning and added 49 runs quickly to lift their lead to 187. BJ Watling completed his century while Tim Southee lit the stadium by cracking a 10-ball 24.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tim Southee. SIX! Two in a row! Excellent hitting this. Shorter on off, Southee rocks back and pulls it high and over deep mid-wicket to finish the over. 17 off this one, takes the lead to 187.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tim Southee. SIX! This is out of here. Floated on middle and leg, Southee makes room and smashes it over long on for a maximum. Tim has come here with a hit-out or get-out mindset.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tim Southee. Flatter outside leg, Southee makes room and looks to hit it straight but he misses. That nearly tickled the leg stump.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Darts one on the pads, Watling looks to sweep but the ball hits him on his pad and goes towards the off side. They take a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. FOUR! Poor bowling this from Embuldeniya. On the pads, Watling gets down on one knee and sweeps it fine down the leg side for a boundary.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Floated on middle and leg, Watling comes down the track and blocks it as he was cramped up for room.

Lahiru Kumara to Tim Southee. Good running! Back of a length ball on off, Southee pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket and looks for two. Watling responds and they get it with ease.

Lahiru Kumara to Tim Southee. FOUR! New Zealand are playing this as white-ball cricket but Lahiru is still bowling Test lines. Back of a length ball around off, Southee tries to slap it over the infield at point but once again it catches the outside edge and flies down to third man for a boundary.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Fuller on off, Watling drives it towards point and gets to the other end.

Lahiru Kumara to Tim Southee. Back of a length ball on off, Southee pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Lahiru Kumara to Tim Southee. FOUR! New Zealand in T20 mode now. Good length ball around off, Southee looks to flat-bat it over mid off but the ball takes the outside edge and flies towards the third man region for a boundary.

Lahiru Kumara to Tim Southee. Good length ball on off, Southee punches it towards cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. FOUR! 100 FOR WATLING! This is brilliant from New Zealand's wicketkeeper batsman. He has once again proved his mettle here. Came in at a difficult time but has once again taken his side out of danger. Tossed up on middle and off, Watling comes down the track and heaves it wide of deep mid-wicket to get to his 7th hundred. He is pumped up as he raises his bat and his teammates appreciate his knock.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Short on off, Watling punches it to cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. FOUR! Brilliant shot! Tossed up around off, Watling gets down on one knee and reverse sweeps it wide of first slip for a boundary. Just a hit away from reaching his 100.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Floated on off, Watling comes down the track and blocks it.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tim Southee. Very full outside leg, Southee makes room and milks it to long on for a single to get off the mark. The lead now reaches 150 for New Zealand.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighted on off, Watling paddle sweeps it behind square on the leg side and gets a single.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Length delivery on middle, Watling punches it to long on and keeps the strike. 5 off the over.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Good ball. Pacy ball, slightly short on top of middle. Watling looks to pull but the ball comes in and cuts him in half on its way to the keeper.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Pulls his length back and bowls it around off, BJ strokes it to point.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. FOUR! Cracking shot! Full on middle, Watling makes room and smashes it straight to the right of Kumara. Lahiru gets his hand to it but that ball was hit with venom. The fielder from long off gives it a chase but has no chance to clean it up. Into the 90s now.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Swing and a miss. Length ball outside off, Watling throws his bat at it but does not connect.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Kumara starts with a good length ball around off, Watling taps it towards point.

Lahiru Kumara to partner Lasith Embuldeniya.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tim Southee. Nearly drags it on! Flighted and outside off, Southee winds up for a big slog sweep but it takes the inside edge and hits him on the pads. It then beats the stumps and rolls towards leg slip. Successful first over for Sri Lanka.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Charges down the track to a full ball and drives it to long off for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. FOUR! Well played! Too full in length on middle, Watling gets down and sweeps it powerfully in front of square leg for a cracking boundary.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flatter one, around middle and leg, Watling defends it from the back foot.

Tim Southee walks out to bat, early on in the day. Would have hoped to have some rest but will have to bat now.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. OUT! Gone on the second ball of the day! Embuldeniya tosses it up in the air and lands in the rough outside leg. It spins away again, towards the off stump and de Grandhomme is down on one knee trying to slog sweep once more against the turn. He fails to control his shot and it flies off the top edge. Lahiru Kumara runs in a bit from deep square leg, keeps his eyes on the ball and takes the skier safely. That was in the air for quite some time and credit to the fielder for maintaining his composure. No century for Colin but it was an entertaining knock by him.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Starts with a flighted delivery landing outside leg, it takes turn towards off after pitching, de Grandhomme tries to slog first up but misses.

Once again after a delayed start we are all set to begin Day 5. Overnight batsmen Colin de Grandhomme and BJ Watling walk out to resume their innings. Lasith Embuldeniya to start the day with the ball.

PITCH REPORT - Once again Kyle Mills is the pitch expert for the day. Mills informs that the outfield is a bit wet. On the pitch, Mills says that the pitch has not broken up even though it's Day 5 and that's because we have a lot of overs deducted. He says that the surface is still hard and hence there's some assistance for the pacers.

Tim Southee is up for an interview. The Kiwi pacer says that the conditions are not like they are used to at home but that's the beauty of the game, you have to adjust. Tells that milestones come and go and it's nice to get your name there. Is happy to do the job for the team. Feels it's a crucial day and he wants to do his job effectively yet again. He's expecting some assistance for the seamers. Feels there is still a chance for all the three results. He's excited and eagerly waiting to see how the day unfolds.

New Zealand are not declaring! They will continue with their batting is the latest update we are provided. Some milestones to achieve for their current batsmen and maybe after that they will put Sri Lanka to bat again.

We have some words from the umpires. 98 overs to be bowled on Day 5 and PLAY TO BEGIN AT 1015 LOCAL TIME. It's going to be a 135-minute session and the duration of the afternoon session will be the same. The final hour will begin at 1645 local. The officials are happy with the outfield, barring a few wet patches on the ground.

Here's a quick interview with Angelo Mathews. He says that they want to control what they can and not think about what New Zealand are going to set them. He doesn't want to be too negative and think about the result at the moment. On Karunaratne, Mathews replies that he has contributed so much and with him going down the order, they have to shuffle their batting order. As a batting unit, Mathews feels they will be a little concerned about the new ball and with the sun coming out, it might take turn also. Signs off by saying that it's not in their control and they have to bat in conditions that are on offer.

Good news for the cricket lovers is that the rain has stopped and the covers are off! The groundsmen have done a commendable job in drying out the outfield, however, there are still puddles on the field and that's leading to a delayed start. The umpires have inspected those areas and have given instructions to the fourth umpire on what's needed to be done. Still we're hopeful of getting underway sooner rather than later.

As far as this Test match is concerned, powered by Tom Latham's fantastic knock, the Kiwis got a solid platform and BJ Watling once again showed why he has earned the tag of being the crisis man for New Zealand. Later on, when things eased out and the pressure vanished, Colin de Grandhomme expressed himself with the bat. His whirlwind 75-ball 83 has taken the visiting team's lead close to 150. With both Watling and de Grandhomme nearing their respective centuries, the Black Caps would look to continue batting on the final day.

Hello, folks! Have you recovered from the euphoria of Ben Stokes' knock last evening? We haven't surely. There is a hangover still. It was truly a blockbuster Sunday. Stokes decimating Australia and then India routing West Indies. Three Tests started last Thursday, two of them have got results and the one left is yet to see the completion of the second innings. Rain dance is what we have witnessed at P Sara Oval and there is more to come today. So don't be too hopeful. Early pictures and videos are suggesting for a delayed start to this game (who's surprised?) once more. On that note, here we are welcoming you for the final day. Be with us for more updates...

... DAY 5, MORNING SESSION ...

So that was it from another curtailed day of play in this 2nd Test. We now move to the final day of this Test. Though a result looks unlikely here we have witnessed games turning on its head especially on Day 5 in sub-continental pitches. Join us on 26th August, 2019, i.e., Monday at 0945 Local (0415 GMT) for the final day's coverage. Till then, cheers!

Sri Lanka started the day's play by bowling tight lines and not allowing free runs but once de Grandhomme walked in all the bowlers were taken away for runs. Before the heavens opened up, benefiting the Sri Lankans. Though play resumed again the break helped Sri Lanka's cause as they were able to once again restrict the runs. With just 3 sessions to go and 2 innings to be played for a result. It looks unlikely that we will have winner unless there is a miracle.

Another day in the Test where we didn't have full three sessions. Latham and Watling continued to build on their partnership from the last day and in the process got to their 150 and 50 respectively. The duo were cautious in their approach but once Latham got out, de Grandhomme came in and played his natural attacking game. He decimated the Sri Lankan bowlers and got to his 50 in just 45 balls taking his side's lead over 100, 114 to be precise. Before rain disrupted play for a while. Once play resumed, it seemed like the halt brought a lapse in concentration for the duo, especially Colin de Grandhomme as he was unable to score as freely as before that. The biggest surprise though was Kane Williamson did not call off his batters and continued to let them play. With a lead of 138, it will be interesting to see how many overs the Kiwi batters bat.

The umpires are having a light meter check here as it has got a bit dark here. They have a discussion and after a chat the umpires have called it STUMPS ON DAY 4. Bad light once again plays the role of a side villain along with rain to perfection.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Full on middle, Watling drives it to mid on.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. On a good length on off, Watling defends it out.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Full again on off, Watling drives it straight back towards Lakmal.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Full on middle, Watling drives it back towards the bowler.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. On a good length on off, Watling defends it off the back foot.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Full and outside off, Watling drives it to point.

Suranga Lakmal is on now. 10-1-32-0, his figures.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Tossed up on leg, Watling sweeps it through square leg for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on off, Watling plays it to point.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Loopy delivery on leg, de Grandhomme sweeps it towards the leg side for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Tossed up on leg, de Grandhomme looks to sweep but gets hit on the pads.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on off, Watling plays it towards covers. The batsmen cross ends.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Tossed up on off, Watling plays it to point.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Length ball around off, Watling runs it down towards third man and keeps the strike.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Fuller on off, de Grandhomme milks it towards long off for a run.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Good length ball on off, de Grandhomme punches it to cover-point.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Fuller on off, BJ plays it towards sweeper cover for one.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. NOT OUT! Missing the leg pole. Full ball on leg, the ball reverses a bit. De Grandhomme looks to flick but misses. The ball hits his pad and goes towards the third man region. There is a stifled appeal but nothing from the umpire. The batters take two in the meantime. Mathews has a word with his bowler and takes it upstairs. Replay rolls in and Hawk Eye shows that the ball would have been clipping the leg pole.

Angelo Mathews has gone up for an LBW decision against de Grandhomme. It looks to be going down leg, at best it looks umpire's call but let us see what the replays have to say.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Floated on middle, Watling comes down the track and keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. In the air but safe. Tossed up on leg, de Grandhomme goes for the sweep but gets a top edge which goes over the keeper's head. Mathews chases it from first slip and saves it before the ropes.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Pitching outside leg and turning in. De Grandhomme tries to sweep it away but misses and the ball hits him on his pad.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighted on off, Watling sweeps it away towards mid-wicket for one.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Shorter on off, Watling blocks it off the back foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Turn and bounce on this one. Floated on middle and leg, Watling looks to defend but the ball grips away from the batter and goes to the keeper.

Lasith Embuldeniya is on now.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! That was six the moment he hit the bat. Short ball around off, de Grandhomme gets on his back foot and pulls it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. 100 partnership comes up with the shot that sounded like a bazooka.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Fuller on off, Watling drives it towards mid-wicket as the bat turns in his hand for a run.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Length ball on off, Watling pushes it to mid off.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Short ball outside off, Watling looks to play an audacious upper cut but misses.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Full on off, Colin drives it off the meat but straight to mid off.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Length delivery outside off, de Grandhomme runs it down to the right of third man. The man in the deep gets to the ball quickly stopping the second Colin was looking for.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. On the off pole, BJ keeps it out.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Length ball on off, Watling taps it towards backward point.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Bouncer! It is on the body, BJ ducks under it. The only ball that has worked for the Sri Lankans today.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Good running! Good length ball on off, Watling taps it towards third man, wide of the fielder. Watling runs the first one hard and calls for the second. Colin responds and BJ reaches the danger end on time.

Suranga Lakmal to Colin de Grandhomme. Full on off and middle, de Grandomme tucks it to the on side for a single.

Suranga Lakmal to Colin de Grandhomme. Edged but falls well short. Fuller on off, de Gradhomme looks to defend with soft hands but the ball goes off the outside edge towards the man at wide first slip.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Very full on off, Watling defends it back to the bowler.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Well controlled pull this from de Grandomme. Back of a length ball on off, Colin pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Fuller ball on middle, Watling strokes it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Oh yes!!! We are back! 5 overs have been lost due to the rain interruption. Watling and de Grandhomme walk out to continue the innings. Lahiru Kumara to finish his over.

It is coming, it is coming, it is coming and it has come. The heavens have opened up. Out come the groundstaff with the covers. That should almost be it for the day. Awaiting official confirmation.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Down the leg side, flicked towards short mid-wicket.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Outside off, played through point for a single. Moves to 70 from 62 balls.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and down the leg side, de Grandhomme looks to flick.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Full and around middle, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.

Suranga Lakmal to Colin de Grandhomme. Outside off, gently tapped towards point for one.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Full and down the leg side, flicked away for a run.

Uh oh... the ground staff is getting into action. The cloud cover mentioned a few minutes ago has grown pretty thick. Sri Lanka will not mind it one bit.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.

Suranga Lakmal to Colin de Grandhomme. Outside off, dabbed to third man for a single.

Suranga Lakmal to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Very smart from de Grandhomme. Outside off, on a length, Colin waits for the ball to come to him and guides it through the vacant first slip region to the third man fence!

There is a bit of cloud cover over the ground. 57 minutes to go to Stumps.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Another bouncer to end the over, BJ ducks again.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Around off, nicely blocked from the crease.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. A bouncer, on middle, Watling ducks.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Outside off, Colin looks to punch but gets a bottom edge towards cover. A single taken to bring up the 350 FOR NEW ZEALAND! Any plans of declaration?

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Poor ball. Full and down the leg side, de Grandhomme flicks it to the fine leg fence! Colin moves to 62 from just 56 balls. The stand is worth 80 from 95 deliveries.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. A length ball outside off, cutting in, de Grandhomme looks to defend but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. That is a good nut. Little bit of shape as it leaves the right-hander, on a length, Watling looks to defend but gets squared up. The ball goes past the outside edge.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Around off, solidly defended.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Full and around middle, flicked towards short mid-wicket.

Suranga Lakmal to Colin de Grandhomme. Around middle, tucked through mid-wicket for a run.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Outside off, pushed towards point for a run. The lead is now exactly a 100.

Suranga Lakmal to Colin de Grandhomme. A length ball outside off, pushed towards mid on for a single.

Suranga Lakmal's back. 7-1-19-0 so far.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and down the leg side, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Outside off, probably the cutter, de Grandhomme looks to punch but the ball comes back in, pretty late and beats the inside edge. Does not carry to the keeper.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Short and outside off, de Grandhomme looks to cut but misses.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Down the leg side, flick shot missed.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. WIDE. The batsman watches the bouncer go way above his head. The umpire has signalled a wide.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Down the leg side, a full toss, de Grandhomme looks to flick but misses.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and around middle, de Grandhomme looks to flick but the ball spins away and takes the leading edge. However, there is no one to catch it and the ball goes towards mid off. A single taken. 19 from the over.

Changing the angle, is Embuldeniya. The ball is being changed as well. Seems to have gone out of shape. Not surprising, given the way de Grandhomme is pelting the ball.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! Another biggie and it is a half century for Colin de Grandhomme! Full and outside off, once again, Colin stays leg side of the ball and lofts it nicely over wide long off. Substitute Avishka Fernando thinks he has a chance, goes back but can only watch the ball sail over! The lead is now worth 95. The stand moves to 70 from 80 balls.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! Easy-peasy for CdG! Full and outside off, de Grandhomme stays leg side of the ball and lofts it with finesse over long off! The stand moves to 64 from 79 balls.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Up and over! Full and outside off, de Grandhomme comes down the track and lofts it over cover for a boundary. The lead is now 83. De Grandhomme moves to 42 from 43 balls.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Around middle, Watling comes down the track and pushes it towards long on for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and outside off, driven towards long off for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Another very full ball, tailing in, worked away watchfully towards mid on. That swung in a bit late.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Excellent yorker, around middle, BJ digs it out.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Down the leg side, flicked towards short mid-wicket.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Outside off, powered past the bowler towards long off for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and outside off, driven back to the bowler.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. WIDE. A short ball outside off, a bit too high, Colin lets it through. The keeper has to leap to collect and it is wided.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Caught behind! No? Nothing from the bowler or the keeper. Thought there was a noise. A short ball outside off, de Grandhomme looks to pull but misses. Replays also confirm a sound but nothing on Snicko when the ball goes past bat. Strange.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Tossed up, outside off, driven through mid off for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Effortless! Full and around middle, de Grandhomme just flicks it casually over mid-wicket!

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Outside off, punched off the back foot towards backward point.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Landed outside off, Colin goes back and guides it past Lahiru Kumara at short third man. Two runs taken.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Short and outside off, cut straight to point.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Landed outside off, de Grandhomme reads it well, trusts his instincts that it is not an arm ball and lets it go.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Outside off, punched towards cover.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Full and around middle, driven towards mid on.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. A bouncer, around middle, BJ ducks.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Short and outside off, cut through point for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. A short ball, down the leg side, de Grandhomme looks to hook but misses.

Lahiru Kumara to Colin de Grandhomme. Down the leg side, de Grandhomme works it behind square leg for a couple.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Outside off, punched off the back foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Comes down the track, takes it on the full and pushes it down the ground for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and around middle, Watling comes forward and defends.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. On middle, tucked through mid-wicket for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and around off, watchfully defended.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Once again Kumara bowls it on the pads of Watling. BJ will not have any issue playing those all day long as he once again flicks it towards mid-wicket and gets a brace.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. On top of the stumps, BJ keeps it out.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. On the pads, Watling flicks it towards square leg for a couple.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Impressive bowling this. Lahiru hits the deck hard around off, the ball paces up and comes in with the angle after hitting the surface. Watling looks to defend but the bat turns in his hands and the ball hits the pad.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Back of a length on off, BJ defends it off the back foot.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Good length ball on off, Watling defends it off the front foot.

Lahiru Kumara to partner Lasith Embuldeniya for the start of the final session of the day. 15-0-67-1, his figures so far.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighhted on middle, Watling nudges it towards long on for one.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Tossed up on off, BJ comes down the track and keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Floated on off, Watling looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Follows it up with a smart single. Floated on middle, Colin defends it with soft hands to the on side for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Seems like the message in the break was for de Grandhomme to play his natural attacking game. Short outside off, de Grandhomme gets on his back foot and punches it with power through covers for a boundary.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Clumsy from Embuldeniya. Tossed up on middle and leg. Watling gets on his back foot and punches it to the right of Lasith. Embuldeniya is casual in his approach. He misfields allowing them to take a single.

We are back for the final session. BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme stride out to resume their innings. Lasith Embuldeniya to start the session for Sri Lanka.

... Day 4, Third Session ...

This has been New Zealand's session. Sri Lanka did manage to get rid of Tom Latham but no other success for them. The Kiwis have scored 99 runs in this session and are looking solid. With the lead now 51 and New Zealand desperately looking for a win, it will be interesting to see what Williamson does after the break. Sri Lanka need to find a way to pick up wickets and also stop the run flow which is slowly gathering pace. What do we have in store for the final session of Day 4? Join us after the break to find out. 27 overs are scheduled for the day. Will Sri Lanka get to bat today?

Dilruwan Perera to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and around off, pushed back to the bowler. TEA ON DAY 4, NEW ZEALAND LEAD BY 51!

Dilruwan Perera to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and around off, watchfully blocked out.

Dilruwan Perera to Colin de Grandhomme. Outside off, Colin looks to cut but misses.

Dilruwan Perera to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! High and handsome! Tea around the corner or not, this bloke does not care. Full and flighted outside off, de Grandhomme comes down the track and sends it sailing over long on!

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Short and outside off, cut behind point for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Full and outside off, watchfully defended.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. DROPPED! Tough chance. Full and outside off, de Grandhomme looks to drive but the ball takes the outside edge and goes behind. Substitute keeper Dinesh Chandimal is not able to get up in time and puts it down. The ball does not carry to Dhananjaya de Silva at first slip.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Floated outside off, driven straight to cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and around off, pushed back to the bowler.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Ripper. Tossed up outside off, Colin looks to cut but the ball spins away and beats the outside edge comprehensively.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Landed outside off, watchfully blocked.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and just around off, de Grandhomme looks to defend and just about gets an inside edge onto his pads.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Full and around off, watchfully defended.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. They manage to come back for the second.

Dilruwan Perera to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and around off, flicked through mid-wicket for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Outside off, pushed towards cover for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Full and around off, well blocked out.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Outside off, punched towards cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and around middle, Bradley-John goes at it with hard hands and the ball flies off the inside edge, JUST WIDE of short leg! A single taken. Replays show that the short leg fielder got a hand to it. Could not cling on...

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Floated outside off, BJ comes down the track and blocks.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Around middle, tucked through square leg for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! Up and over! Full and outside off, de Grandhomme comes forward and lofts it as clean as a whistle over long off! The stand moves to 13 from 17 balls.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Tossed up outside off, driven towards cover.

Dilruwan Perera to Colin de Grandhomme. Around off, flicked through square leg for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Colin de Grandhomme. Short and outside off, cut behind point for a brace.

Dilruwan Perera to Colin de Grandhomme. Outside off, blocked from the crease.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Full and around off, Watling looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge past first slip for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Outside off, blocked from the crease.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and around off, Colin looks to block but gets another inside edge onto his pads.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Beautifully tossed up outside off, de Grandhomme looks to defend but the ball rips past the outside edge.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and around off, watchfully defended.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Around middle, worked through square leg for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Colin de Grandhomme. Full and outside off, driven towards mid off for a single.

Change again. Lasith Embuldeniya is back on. 25-3-74-1 so far.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Around off, BJ goes back and blocks again.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Full and around middle, Watling comes forward and blocks.

Dilruwan Perera to Colin de Grandhomme. Off the mark straightaway. Outside off, de Grandhomme goes back and punches it through the covers for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme walks in at number 7, replacing Latham.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. OUT! LBW! It looked out and it is out. Arm ball on middle, it is slightly quicker. Latham looks to play it on the off side off his back foot but misses. The ball hits him on the back pad. The Sri Lankan players put in a solid appeal and the umpire agrees. Latham after a brief chat with Watling signals a hopeful 'T'. Replay rolls in and Snicko shows no bat. Hawk Eye comes in next and it shows all reds as the ball would have gone onto hit the leg stump. Latham has to walk back. End of a fantastic knock from Tom. He walks off to a round of applause from the fans. This will be a knock he would remember for a long time as it is not an easy pitch to bat but he made it look easy, scoring more than half the runs for his side.

LBW appeal taken upstairs. Latham has been adjudged out. Looks out as well. Here comes Hawk Eye. Missing off and middle. Hitting leg. Good decision from the umpire, not a great review, I am afraid.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on middle, Watling nudges it towards square leg for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. FOUR! Terrific shot. Short and outside off, Watling makes room and cuts it hard through point for a boundary.

Dilruwan Perera is back into the attack.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Good length delivery on off, Latham blocks it off the back foot.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Full on off, Tom drives it to mid off.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Full again on off, Latham drives it to covers.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. FOUR! Nice shot. Full and outside off, Latham drives it through covers for a boundary. This is excellent batting from Tom Latham.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. On a length on middle, Latham plays it to mid on.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. On a good length on off, Latham defends it off the front foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. On the pads, BJ flicks it towards mid-wicket.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flights one on off, Watling blocks it off the front foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. 150 FOR TOM LATHAM. He continues his excellent scoring spree. Flighted on off, Tom gets down on one knee and sweeps it towards square leg for a single. He has single-handedly taken on the Lankan bowlers here.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floated on off, Latham comes down the track and strokes it towards cover for a couple.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. 50 for BJ Watling. Back to back fifties for him. He has once again played a knock that has got his side out of trouble. Floated delivery on off, Watling strokes it wide of mid off. The fielder there misfields allowing them to get to his 18th Testy fifty. He raises his bat and shows it towards his dressing room as his teammates appreciate his knock with a standing ovation.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on middle, Latham flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. On a good length on off, Watling looks to drive but gets an outside edge. It goes towards gully.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Good length delivery on middle, Watling plays it to mid off.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Outside off, Watling lets it go.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Good length delivery on off, Watling keeps it out.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. On a good length on off, Latham looks to flick but it goes off the inner half of the bat. It goes towards square leg. The batsmen cross ends.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. FOUR! Lovely shot. Full and outside off, Latham drives it beautifully through covers for a boundary.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. On the stumps, BJ blocks it to get through the over.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighted on off, Watling keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Fuller on off, Watling strokes it towards cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. FOUR! Punched away with power. Short around off, Watling transfers his weight onto his back foot and punches it through covers for a boundary. 250 up for New Zealand.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Tossed up on middle, Watling comes down the track and looks to defend. He gets a faint inside edge onto the pads. There is a big appeal from the Lankan players but the umpire is not interested.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Floated on off, Watling defends it off the front foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya is back.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Good length ball outside off, Latham looks to defend inside the line but misses.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Outside the off pole, Latham lets it carry to the keeper.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Beauty! Good length ball pitching around off, Latham looks to defend but the ball dissects him in half and goes to the keeper.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. On the pads, Watling turns it to the on side and gets to the other end.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Length ball on the 4th stump line, BJ shoulders arms to it.

Suranga Lakmal to BJ Watling. Starts the new spell with a good length ball outside off, Watling leaves it alone.

Suranga Lakmal to operate first up with the new ball.

Sri Lanka have the option to take the second new ball and they have taken it.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Flighted on off, Latham keeps it out.

Dhananjaya de Silva to BJ Watling. Flighted on off, Watling strokes it wide of mid off and calls for a quick single. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Watling looked to be in even if the fielder had managed to hit the stumps. New Zealand into the lead now.

Dhananjaya de Silva to BJ Watling. Full toss. BJ does not make the most of it and once again hits it straight to mid off.

Dhananjaya de Silva to BJ Watling. Flighted on off, Watling pushes it to cover.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Scores level now. On the pads, Tom turns it to the on side for a single to reach Sri Lanka's total of 244.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham defends it off the front foot.

Dhananjaya de Silva to replace Dilruwan Perera. 4-1-8-0, his figures so far.

Drinks Break! New Zealand have not been aggressive in their approach but in their defense the Sri Lankan bowlers have bowled really well. They trail by just 1 and the question on everyone's mind is whether New Zealand go for the runs or declare and back their bowlers. If Sri Lanka are eyeing a draw then they are well paced here as they have kept the run flow at check.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flights on off, BJ pushes it to cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Short on off, BJ defends it off the back foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. On the stumps, Watling taps it back to the bowler.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Nicely bowled. Slower through the air on middle and off, BJ looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Floated on off, Watling comes down the track and defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Collision but no serious damage. Shorter around off, Latham punches it through covers. Kusal Mendis and Suranga Lakmal come to clean it up, they end up bumping into each other. No damage done but the batters get two with ease.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Flighted on off, Watling comes down the track and strokes it wide of cover for one.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Off spinner on off and middle, Watling keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham turns it with the spin behind square on the leg side for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated on off, BJ keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Short on off, Watling stands tall and punches it towards cover-point.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floated on off, Tom comes down the track and milks it to long on to take one. Deficit now of just 5.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floated on the stumps, Latham defends it with a straight bat.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flighted on off, Latham comes down the track and keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Tossed up on off, Watling waits and then plays it late wide of first slip for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Short and spinning away. Watling punches it to cover.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up on middle, Watling flicks it towards square leg for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Loopy delivery on middle, Latham flicks it towards mid-wicket. The batsmen cross ends.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham blocks it well.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on middle, Latham defends it off the back foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham plays it to point.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham blocks it off the front foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on off, Watling comes down the track and defends it.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Loopy delivery on middle, BJ blocks it well.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Tossed up on off, Watling defends it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Floated delivery on off, Watling plays it to covers.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on off, Watling defends it off the front foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Tossed up on off, Watling plays it to covers.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on middle, Tom keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Loopy delivery on off, Latham punches it to point.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on off, Latham plays it to point.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on middle, Latham keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham defends it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Another solid and calm defense from BJ to end the over.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. On the stumps, Watling bends his back and keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham milks it to long off and gets to the other end.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham comes down the track and defends it towards mid on.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. On the pads, BJ nudges it towards fine leg for one.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Short on off, Watling keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Short again, Watling strokes it towards cover-point and keeps the strike.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on middle, Latham nudges it to long on and rotates the strike.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. On off and short, Watling strokes it towards cover for one.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Shorter on off, Watling keeps it out of his back foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Loopy ball on off and middle, Tom gets on his back foot and punches it towards cover.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted on off and middle, Latham gets on his back foot and defends it.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. On the pads, Latham glances it to the leg side for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flights one on off, TL keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham comes down the track and defends it.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Short and spinning away, it is on the pads. Latham flicks it fine down the leg side with the spin for a couple.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham comes down the track and keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Starts with a flighted delivery on middle, Tom keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya is into the attack.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. BJ defends it from within the crease.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Short around off, Tom stands tall and punches it towards cover for a single. It brings the 100-run stand between the two. It has been a game changing knock here from the duo. A well constructed partnership this.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated on off, Latham keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated on off, Tom strokes it towards mid off.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up on off, BJ gets down on one knee and paddles it towards the fine leg region for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Flighted on off, Watling defends it off the front foot.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Length delivery around off, Watling strokes it towards point and keeps the strike. The trail is now 20.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On the pads, Tom flicks it towards mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. EDGED AND JUST OVER SLIPS! FOUR! Length delivery outside off, Latham looks to slash that but gets a thick outside edge. It goes over second slip. Mathews misreads it and hence misjudges it and the ball goes past him for a boundary. Had Mathews read it correctly that could have been taken.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. FOUR! Poor delivery from Kumara. Bowls it on a length on leg, Latham nudges it towards fine leg for a boundary.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Length delivery on middle, Watling flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On a length on off, Latham plays it towards point. The batsmen take a run.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Short on off, Watling makes room and cuts it to point.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up delivery on middle, Watling flicks it to the leg side.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on middle, Watling defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Floated delivery on off, Watling defends it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up delivery on middle, Latham flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on off, Watling comes down the track and looks to drive but gets an outside edge. It goes towards third man. The batsmen cross ends.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Outside off, Latham leaves it alone.

Sri Lankan skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne is not on the field as he has an internal injury. Not sure what the injury is. Angelo Mathews is the stand in captain.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On a good length on off, Latham keeps it out.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Good length delivery on off, Latham blocks it off the back foot.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. On a length on middle, Watling flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Length delivery on off, Latham plays it towards point for a run.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Bowls a bouncer outside off, Latham lets it sail through to the keeper.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on middle, Watling comes down the track and defends it.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up on middle, Watling defends it out.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Loopy delivery on off, Watling blocks it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Floated delivery on middle, Watling defends it off the back foot.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on middle, Watling keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up outside off, Watling looks to drive but gets an outside edge. It goes towards third man. The batsmen get two runs.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On top of the stumps, Latham defends it to get through the over.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Full on off, Watling drives it straight down the ground. The outfield is relatively slow hence the fielder from mid off cleans it up before the ropes. 3 taken.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Now swing on this one. It is left alone by BJ.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Appeal but nothing from the umpire. Length ball pitching on off, it nips back in. Watling looks to defend but the ball hits him on the pads. There is a stifled appeal but the umpire is unmoved. It looks to be going down leg and Hawk Eye later on confirms the same.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Good length ball around off, Watling strokes it to point.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Bouncer. It is around off, Watling sits under it.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted on middle, Tom defends it straight back to the bowler.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flights one on middle and leg, Tom defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Darts one down the leg side. It is closer to the leg stump. Tom looks to flick but misses.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated on off, Latham defends it towards point.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up on off, Watling milks it down to long on for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Beats him first up. Short and straight outside off, Watling looks to cut but misses.

Dilruwan Perera to partner Lahiru Kumara.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. First run for Watling for the day. Good length ball on off, BJ defends it with soft hands towards point and calls for a quick single.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Bouncer to follow the yorker. Good bowling this from Lahiru. Keeps the batsman guessing. This is on the body, BJ sits under it.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Yorker. It is on off, Watling keeps his eyes on the ball and gets his bat down in time.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. Full on off, Watling pushes it to cover.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Off the inner half this time. Good length ball on off, Latham looks to play it on the off side but it goes off the inner portion of his bat towards square leg for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. FOUR! Runs straightaway and that also brings up the 200 for New Zealand. Full ball outside off, Latham goes for the drive but the ball moves away and goes through the vacant gully region off the outer half of his bat for a boundary. Not off the middle but New Zealand will take it.

After a long...long...long delay we are finally ready to start Day 4. Overnight batsmen Tom Latham and BJ Watling walk out to resume their innings. Lahiru Kumara to start the proceedings for Sri Lanka on Day 4.

PITCH REPORT - Kyle Mills is once again the pitch master. Mills tells that it is exceptionally hot now. On the pitch, Mills says that there is no moisture though the pitch was under cover. He tells that the surface is dry and the footmarks are still prevalent.

FINALLY!!! PLAY SET TO START AT 1340 LOCAL. All the wait seems to be finally over as we are not far away from the start. The players are seen warming up. 57 overs to be played today with the time extended to 1745 Local.

UPDATE 1230 Local (0700 GMT) - Yes this time we have a good news for you. It has stopped raining and the sun is slowly creeping out from beneath the clouds. This is encouraging. Now time for the sun to shine brighter than the clouds. The covers are slowly coming off and we will have an inspection at 1330 Local, i.e., in an hours time.

UPDATE 1130 Local (0600 GMT) - Early Lunch has been taken here. So another session marred and won by rain. Also, we are hearing that even if it does not rain play looks unlikely to start before 1300 Local. It has started to drizzle again so expect it to be a tiring day as a cricket fan.

UPDATE 1120 Local (0550 GMT) - Finally some good news. The rain has STOPPED. The groundstaff have started their work.

UPDATE 1040 Local (0510 GMT) - Nothing much to update as it continues to rain. It had stopped for a while but it was just a tease as it started raining again.

UPDATE 0930 Local (0400 GMT) - Terrible news to start the day. It is raining down steadily and we are up for another delayed start. Rain continues to dominate this Test and is now leading by a comfortable margin.

Trail - 48, wickets in hand - 6. That is what New Zealand come with on Day 4. Welcome to the coverage of Day 4 of the 2nd Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. 6 sessions remain in this Test and the second innings is yet to be played. If we are to get a result in this one, the weather has to be supportive. The forecast does not show that so it will be interesting to see what approach New Zealand come with. Do they go attacking or will they continue their cautious approach? The pitch is not that easy to score runs. Sri Lanka will need to strike early if they want to put the visitors on the back foot and keep the Kiwi lead to minimal. What will happen?

... Day 4, Morning Session ...

Is there still a possibility of a result in this Test? Ummm... with 2 whole days left, definitely yes. But if weather plays spoilsport, which is predicted to, then we might only be left to relish some individual performances. Hopefully, we get at least some chances of a result, even if we do not get a result. Join us on Sunday, 25th August 2019, at 9.45 am local (0415 GMT) for all the action from Day 4. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

The Lankans tried hard to get wickets but they lost patience and started bowling way too short. Latham was given some easy passage of runs and it seemed like the hosts are relying more on the Kiwis making mistakes.

Right! Whose day was it? Shared? One might feel so. Sri Lanka started well in the morning with Dhananjaya de Silva getting to his century and crucially, taking the Lankans close to the 250-mark. But the Kiwis, after wasting starts in the middle, managed to recover through Tom Latham, who ensured that the Lankans did not break through.

Well, the umpires reckon that the light is not good enough to continue and take the bails off. The Sri Lankan players get across and shake hands with Tom Latham. A fabulous knock. His unbeaten 111 has brought New Zealand to a level of parity at least, in this game.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and around off, Watling comes down the track and blocks.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and down the leg side, swept towards leg slip.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and around off, Watling comes down the track and defends.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Latham comes down the track and works it through mid-wicket for a run. The stand moves to 70 now.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and around off, Watling comes down the track and pushes it towards short mid-wicket for a single. The deficit is now 49.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Short and outside off, cut straight to point.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Outside off, cut through point for a couple.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Full and just around off, well kept out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Fired in around off, Tom goes back and hurriedly blocks it towards the bowler.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Full and around off, watchfully defended.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Outside off, punched towards point.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Landed around off, punched back to the bowler.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and outside off, watchfully defended.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. The batsman gets to the pitch of the ball and connects. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Full and around middle, defended in front of short leg.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Oops, yes, yes, no, no, go back, chance of a run out, mix-up and two overthrows. Plenty happening. Full and around middle and leg, Latham comes down the track and works it towards leg slip. Dhananjaya de Silva gets a bad bounce and the ball hits his body and goes behind. Seeing that, Watling calls Latham for a single but then sends him back as he feels he will not make it in time. Latham goes back and now, thanks to the yelling, de Silva is guided to throw to the bowler. But the throw is a wild one and the ball goes all the way to long on! Two overthrows in total.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. FOUR! Bad ball, down the leg side, Latham sweeps it past leg slip to the fine leg fence.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Outside off, punched off the back foot for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. That is venom. Landed around off, Latham looks to defend but the ball pitches and then spins away past the outside edge.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Around off, punched back to the bowler.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Full and around middle, watchfully defended.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. FOUR! 10th Test ton for Tom Latham, 4th against Sri Lanka! Every time he has scored 50 against the Lankans, he has gone on to convert it into triple figures. Terrific innings again. Gets there with a pull shot to an ordinary long hop, through mid-wicket. Takes his helmet off and walks across to hug his partner. New Zealand may not win this match but this effort is superb.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Incredible leave. This is tossed up around middle, BJ comes forward and then trusts the bounce and away spin to let it go. Brave. Very brave.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and outside off, spinning away, left alone.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Around off, pushed back to the bowler.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and around off, watchfully defended.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Landed outside off, left alone.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. TOP EDGE, SAFE! Full and around middle, Latham looks to sweep but gets a bit of a top edge due to some extra bounce. Suranga Lakmal at fine leg probably does not pick it at first, hence takes a slow start. By the time he starts to run, he is not in a position to take the catch and the ball lands in front. Worse, he is lazy to stop the ball and it goes past him. Two runs taken.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Around off, solidly defended.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Comes down the track and works it through mid-wicket for a couple.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Landed outside off, spinning in, Watling goes back and punches it past slip towards third man. Two fielders give it a chase, one from slip, the other from gully, someone gets there first, pulls the ball back in before it touches the ropes and then parries it to his partner. Three runs taken to bring up the 50-RUN STAND.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Full and around middle and leg, swept through mid-wicket for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Full and outside leg, Latham goes back and defends.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and outside off, watchfully blocked out once more.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Around off, Watling defends.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Outside off, punched off the back foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and outside off, watchfully defended.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Full and around middle, spinning down, Latham comes down the track and looks to flick and is very fortunate that he gets a glove onto it. The ball goes in front of leg slip where Kusal Mendis collects and has a shy at the keeper's end but misses. Concedes an overthrow instead. Latham would have been in even if that had hit the stumps.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Full and around middle, Watling comes down the track and drives it towards cover.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Down the leg side, the arm ball, Watling lets it go.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Outside off, pushed straight to cover.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Full and around middle, Latham picks this from the stumps and sweeps it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Full and around off, watchfully defended.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and around off, Bradley-John comes forward and pushes it back to the bowler.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Around off, watchfully defended.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. FOUR! Nice stroke. Full and outside off, Watling comes down the track and drives it through the covers.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and on middle, pushed towards cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and around middle, BJ comes down the track and defends.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. 'Play that!' chuckles Ramiz Raja on air. Landed outside off, Watling comes forward to defend but the ball lands on the rough and then spins away viciously past the outside edge.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Full and just outside off, Tom comes forward and smothers the spin.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Another lobbed one outside off, Latham watches it spin away.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Comes down the track and hits it down the ground for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Outside off, punched off the back foot for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Full and outside off, a bit of flight, watchfully blocked out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Outside off, watchfully defended.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. The ball strikes the batsman very low on the pads. One run added to the total. Leg bye given by the umpire.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. FOUR! Latham comes down the track, takes it on the full and flicks it through mid-wicket for a boundary!

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Full and around middle, Latham comes down the track and works it in front of short leg.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Shorter on off, Watling gets on his back foot and keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Shorter on off, Tom punches it towards cover and gets to the other end.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Tom defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Floated on off, Watling creams his drive through covers. The ball does not have the legs to reach the fence and the fielder from short cover cleans it up. Three runs taken.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up on off, Tom comes down the track and defends it.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. On the pads, Latham turns it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighted delivery on off, Watling keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Loopy delivery on off, Watling punches it to point.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up delivery on middle, Latham comes down the track and flicks it towards mid-wicket. The batsmen take a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Floated delivery on middle, Watling plays a sweep shot towards fine leg. The batsmen take a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on middle, Latham comes down the track and drives it to long on for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up on middle, Latham flicks it towards short leg where it falls short of the fielder.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up on the stumps, Watling defends it off the front foot to get through the over.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up around off, BJ looks to drive but misses.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. NOT OUT! There is no bat involved. Shorter delivery around off, Watling looks to play the late cut. The ball goes very close to the edge and to the keeper. The Lankan players appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Watling signals the 'T' straightaway. Replay rolls in and Ultra Edge shows no spike. New Zealand not just retain the review but Watling survives too.

Watling has taken a review against a caught behind. He referred it straightaway indicating there is no bat involved.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Short on off, Latham punches it towards cover for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. NOT OUT! Sri Lanka lose the review by the faintest of margins. Arm ball on middle, Latham looks to sweep but misses. The ball hits him on the pad and there is a huge appeal. The umpire takes it upstairs. Angelo Mathews, the stand-in skipper signals the 'T'. Replay rolls in and Ultra Edge shows a tiny spike as the ball goes past the glove. After a few looks, the T.V umpire rules in favour of the on-field umpire.

LBW appeal taken upstairs. Latham is the man in question. It looks very close. Is there bat involved? It looks like that the ball is just about kissing the glove as there is spike as the ball goes past the glove.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. FOUR! Pulled and with sheer authority! It is short around off, Latham is quick to get on his back foot. He pulls it through the vacant mid-wicket region for a boundary.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Outside off, spinning away, left alone.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Full and just around off, well blocked out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Full and around off, pushed down the ground for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Outside off, dabbed wide of slip for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Outside off, punched towards cover.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Floats one on off, Watling nudges it to cover for one.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up on middle, BJ looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Shorter on off, Tom punches it towards cover for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted on off, Latham blocks it away.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham looks to defend but the ball hits the front pad. There is a huge appeal but the umpire turns it down. He indicates that there was bat involved. Replay later on does confirms that. To the naked eye it did not look like there was any bat involved. Good decision by the umpire.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Shorter on off, Latham defends it off his back foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Very good fielding. Floated outside off, Latham drags his sweep to the right of deep mid-wicket. Lahiru Thirimanne in the deep dives and saves 3 runs for his side. They run just one as they think it will go for a boundary.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Driven towards the mid off region. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Looped up on off, Watling defends it off the front foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Lasith Embuldeniya to BJ Watling. Flighted on off, Watling strokes it towards cover.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floated on middle and off, Latham comes down the track and flicks it. He ends up ballooning it but luckily wide of leg gully for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya is back. 9-0-32-1, his figures so far.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Floats one on the stumps, Watling keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up on off, Watling defends it right of the middle.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Flighted on off, Watling defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated on off, Latham turns it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Short and spinning in, Watling punches it against the spin through covers. The outfield is a bit slow but these two are quick between the wickets. They call for three and they get it with ease.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Good leave. Length delivery outside off, it comes back in. Tom though is aware of his off stump and leaves it alone.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On off, Latham pushes it to mid off.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Full on middle and off, Latham defends it towards point and shouts a loud wait.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On the pads, Tom flicks it wide of fine leg for a couple.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Wide! Bouncer bounces too high. It is over the head of Latham who sits under it.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. This time flicks it off the middle towards mid-wicket for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to BJ Watling. FOUR! Unlucky for the bowler. Kumara steams in and bowls a 145 kph ball full on off and middle. The ball moves away at the last minute. Watling looks to play it straight but the ball goes off the outside edge through the gully region for a boundary.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Watling gets off the mark. Tossed up on off, Watling strokes it to cover and keeps the strike.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Tossed up around off, Watling keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to BJ Watling. Floated on off, Watling starts his innings with a solid front foot defense.

New Zealand's crisis man, BJ Watling is the new man in.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. OUT! Caught! The budding partnership has been broken. Seems like the rain break got a bit of discrepancy in Nicholls' concentration. Slower through the air on off, Nicholls has a push at it. The ball though turns away and kisses the outside edge of the bat. It goes to the right of first slip and once again it is Dhananjaya de Silva who takes the catch. Third catch of this innings for him to follow up the big ton.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Flighted on off, Henry defends it back to the bowler.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Short and spinning away. Nicholls gets on his back foot and punches it to cover.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. On a length and outside off, Nicholls punches it through point. The batsmen cross ends.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. On a length on middle, Nicholls tucks it to mid-wicket.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Length delivery on off, Nicholls defends it to covers.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On a length and outside off, Latham plays it towards point for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On a good length on middle, Latham tucks it to mid-wicket.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Short delivery, Nicholls plays a controlled pull through square leg for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up delivery on middle, Latham defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on middle, Latham flicks it to mid-wicket.

We are back. Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls walk out. Dilruwan Perera to complete his over which has 2 balls remaining in it.

Good news - The covers are off and we are about to start at 1620 Local.

What happened there? Tom Latham is suddenly running somewhere. Is it a bathroom break? Oh dear... the heavens have opened up. My colleague Sairaj, who has been cross-checking the weather forecast from 9 am this morning, predicts that rain was going to come around 4 pm. Like a metro train, it has come. Not on time, but well before. Well, that might be the end of any more chances of a result in this Test. Still, we cling to hope. Do stay tuned for any updates though we doubt, further play will be possible.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Loopy delivery on middle, Nicholls flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Floated delivery on middle, Nicholls defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Flighted delivery on middle, Nicholls flicks it to short leg.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Tossed up on middle, Nicholls defends it off the back foot.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Another wayward bouncer, ducked under again.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. A bouncer but down the leg side, Tom ducks.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Full and outside off, driven back to the bowler.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Outside off, played through point for a run.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Very well played. A short ball, outside off, Nicholls plays a controlled pull shot through mid-wicket past the fielder inside the circle for a run. He kept that all along the ground.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Around middle, tucked through mid-wicket for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. On the pads, Latham looks to flick but misses and the ball hits him high on the thigh pad.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted on off, Latham blocks it off his front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Shorter on off, Tom punches it to cover.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. FOUR! Pummeled away. Short around off, Tom picks it early. He goes on his back foot and flat bats it over mid on for a boundary.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Appeal for LBW but nothing from the umpire. Floated delivery around off, Latham gets down on one knee and tries to sweep. He misses and the ball hits him on the pads. There is a huge appeal but the umpire is unmoved. They do not take the review as Perera feels it is missing off. Good decision as the Hawk Eye later on confirms that to be true.

Dilruwan Perera is back on. 13-3-36-1, his figures so far.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Very good fielding from Oshada! Full around off, Latham, drives it to the right of cover. Oshada Fernando at short cover dives to his right and saves runs for his side. A single taken.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Fuller on middle and off, Tom strokes it to mid on.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Length delivery around off, Tom runs it down to third man and gets a couple.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Good length ball outside off, Tom leaves it alone.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Nicholls shows Latham how to pull with confidence and ease as he pulls this one towards deep mid-wicket.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. In the air but in no man's land. Back of a length ball on off and middle. Latham looks to pull but gets a top edge which falls in no man's land at square leg. Single taken.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. Tossed up on the stumps, Nicholls keeps it out to get through the over.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. On the pads, Nicholls glances it to square leg.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. Short again, Nicholls defends it off the back foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Shorter and spinning in, Latham gets on his back foot and flat bats it wide of extra cover for one.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Tom comes down the track and milks it to mid off.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flighted on off, Latham defends it off the front foot.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Fuller on off, Nicholls pushes it to cover.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Good length ball outside off, Nicholls leaves it alone.

The ball is being shown to the umpires. Seems like it has gone out of shape. Umpire Oxenford takes out the 8-shaped gauge and tries pushing the ball through both the rings. It gets stuck in both. That is an indication that the cherry has gone out of shape. Time for the box of replacement balls.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. On top of off, Nicholls stands tall and punches it wide of deep point. They run the first one hard and challenge the fielder as they call for the second. They get it with ease.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Fuller on the stumps, Nicholls defends it off the front foot.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Bouncer outside off, Henry sways away from it.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Good length ball on off, TL milks it to cover for one.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. On the pads, Nicholls flicks it but gets hit on the pads.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Loops this on middle, Latham comes down the track and nudges it to long on to get to the other end.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floats one on middle, Latham gets on his front foot and blocks it onto the ground.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. On the pads, Henry flicks it towards square leg and gets to the other end.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. Tossed up on off, Nicholls gets on his front foot and defends it.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. Floated on off, Nicholls keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to bowl from the other end.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Full again on off, Latham taps it back to the bowler to get through the over.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Bouncer! It is on off, Tom ducks under it.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Back of a length on off, Latham defends it with a straight bat.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Good length ball on off, Tom keeps it out off his front foot.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Back of a length ball on off, Henry pulls it to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Lahiru Kumara to Henry Nicholls. Starts with a full ball around off, Nicholls drives it but not of the middle and straight to cover.

We are back for the final session of the day. Tom Latham walks out with Henry Nicholls to resume their innings. The Sri Lankan players are out on the field in their respective positions. Lahiru Kumara to bowl the first over of the final session.

... Day 3, Evening session ...

There are two ways one can look at this as a cricket fan. New Zealand go berserk after Tea and then declare after reaching 200. Bowl out Sri Lanka for 100 and then chase it down on the final day. OR. Sri Lanka run riot after Tea, bowl the Kiwis out within an hour, bat till Tea tomorrow and then declare, setting a target of 250. If either of these happens, it will be FUN. Else, a draw is very much likely on the cards. Join us back at 3.15 pm local (0945 GMT).

Not surprisingly, only 9 overs were bowled by the seamers and even in that, Kumara managed to get rid of Williamson. Karunaratne has employed as many as three spinners already and is rotating them nicely. He will aim for a good outing for his spinners and get a lead of around 50-60 at least. There is some batting to come for the Kiwis but in spinning conditions, they have been found wanting.

A decent session for New Zealand. They managed to score 102 runs and lost three wickets. In fact, they were in a spot of bother at 34/2 but the half century stand between Taylor and Latham steadied things nicely. Sri Lanka have nothing to lose, 1-0 already up and just 7 sessions left in this game. Hard to see them losing from here.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham defends it off the front foot. THAT IS TEA ON DAY 3!

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. Loopy delivery on off, Nicholls plays it towards point for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. Flighted delivery on middle, Nicholls defends it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on middle, Latham flicks it towards square leg for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on middle, Latham defends it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up on leg, Latham looks to flick but gets hit on the pads.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Tossed up on middle, Nicholls defends it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Flighted delivery on off, Henry defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Tossed up on off, Nicholls keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on middle, Latham plays a sweep through square leg. The batsmen cross ends.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Flighted delivery on middle, Nicholls flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Tossed up on middle, Nicholls flicks it towards mid-wicket where the ball falls just short of the fielder.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. FOUR! FIFTY FOR TOM LATHAM! This has been a fine knock from him and till now he's been the sole fighter for the Kiwis. Tom has kept losing wickets from the other end but he has held his own here. He gets to his 16th fifty in stylish fashion too. Flighted delivery on off, Latham gets down on one knee and sweeps it through the square leg region for a boundary. Subdued celebrations from him as he knows the job is not done yet. He will now look to convert this into a big one.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up delivery on middle, Latham keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. Flighted delivery on middle, Nicholls punches it towards mid on for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on middle, Latham comes down the track and drives it to long on for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. Flighted delivery on middle, Nicholls flicks it towards square leg for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up on leg, Latham sweeps it towards fine leg for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Flighted delivery on off, Nicholls defends it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Henry Nicholls. Tossed up on middle, Nicholls flicks it to mid-wicket.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Loopy delivery on middle, Latham flicks it towards mid-wicket. The batsmen cross ends.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on middle, Latham keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up delivery on middle, Latham defends it off the back foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera is back into the attack.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. On the pads, Latham glances it towards square leg and keeps the strike.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tom is in no hurry and he confidently keeps this out off his front foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flights one outside off, Tom goes for a big sweep but misses.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floats one on off, Latham once again comes down and blocks it.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floated on off, Tom comes down the track and keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Darts one down the leg side, Latham looks to flick but misses.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Henry Nicholls. Tossed up on off, Nicholls keeps it out to get through the over.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Henry Nicholls. Shorter on off, Nicholls gets on his back foot and defends it.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Henry Nicholls. Nicholls plants his front foot forward and once again calmly blocks it.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Henry Nicholls. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Henry Nicholls. Flighted on the stumps, Nicholls keeps it out.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Henry Nicholls. Tossed up away from the off pole, Nicholls leaves it alone.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Tossed up outside off, Tom gets down on one knee and looks to sweep but misses.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flights one on off, Latham keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. FOUR! Latham carries his good work. Flighted on off, Latham comes down the track and slams it through mid on for a boundary. Suranga Lakmal stationed at long on chases it but he is casual in his approach and the ball beats him to the fence comprehensively.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Henry Nicholls. Floated on off, Nicholls sweeps it hard. The ball hits short leg and goes past him towards square leg for a single.

The new man in is Henry Nicholls.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. OUT! Caught! Deja vu moment for Ross Taylor. Just like in the second innings in Galle, Taylor once again loses his patience and throws it away. Flighted around off, Taylor comes down the track making it seem like he was tired of the defensive game. He does not get to the pitch of the ball but he is so far in front that he has to go and play at it. Taylor only manages to get a thick outside edge straight to first slip. Dhananjaya de Silva just cannot do anything wrong today and he takes another catch. Unnecessary shot at this stage, it was just not needed.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Flighted on off, Ross pushes it to mid off.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Short around off, Latham punches it to mid off to get through the over. Just in case you are wondering why the last ball took so long, it is because there was a miscalculation.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Another good drive but straight to mid off.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. FOUR! Glorious! Latham brings up the 50-run stand in style. Flighted delivery on off, Latham gets on his front foot and creams his drive through covers for a boundary.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Ross Taylor. On the pads, Ross flicks it to square leg for a single.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Ross Taylor. Arm ball on the pads, Taylor tucks it to short leg.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Floated on off, Latham prods forward and strokes it to cover for one.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Flighted delivery on off, Taylor blocks it off the front foot.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Outside off, Taylor leaves it alone.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. FOUR! Excellent shot. Flighted delivery on off, Taylor drives it beautifully through covers for a boundary.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Tossed up on off, Taylor keeps it out.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on middle, Latham sweeps it to square leg.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham comes down the track and blocks it well.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Loopy delivery on off, Latham punches it towards point for a run.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Full on off, Latham drives it to covers.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham blocks it off the back foot.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham drives it to covers.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham defends it off the front foot.

Dhananjaya de Silva is back into the attack.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Flighted delivery on off, Taylor punches it to point.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Loopy delivery on off, Taylor drives it to mid on.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Tossed up on off, Taylor drives it to mid off.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. FOUR! Good shot. Flighted delivery on middle, Taylor comes down the track and drives it through mid on for a boundary.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Tossed up on off, Taylor drives it to mid off.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on off, Latham comes down the track and plays it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Flighted delivery on middle, Taylor flicks it to mid-wicket.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham looks to cut but gets an outside edge. It goes towards third man. The batsmen get three runs.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham plays it to point.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on middle, Latham flicks it to the leg side.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Floated delivery on middle, Taylor nudges it towards square leg for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on middle, Latham flicks it towards square leg for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. On the pads, Taylor glances it to the on side for a single.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Flights it around off, it comes as a full toss. Latham sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Play and miss. Slower through the air on off, Latham looks to defend but the ball spins away and squares Latham up.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Down the leg side, Taylor sweeps it fine down the leg side for a run.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Ross Taylor. Loopy ball on middle, Taylor strokes it to mid on.

Lasith Embuldeniya to Tom Latham. Starts with a flighted delivery outside off, Latham premeditates his paddle sweep and takes a single as the ball goes behind square on the leg side.

Lasith Embuldeniya is into the attack.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. FOUR! Nice shot. Flighted delivery outside off, Taylor sweeps it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Floated delivery on middle, Taylor keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Flighted delivery on off, Taylor defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on middle, Latham nudges it towards square leg for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on middle, Latham keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham blocks it off the front foot.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. Good length delivery on off, Taylor defends it off the front foot.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. On a good length on off, Taylor keeps it out.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Length delivery on middle, Latham flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. Full on middle, Taylor flicks it through mid-wicket. The fielder chases it and does well to stop it. The batsmen get three runs.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. Good length delivery on off, Taylor defends it off the back foot.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On a good length and outside off, Latham taps it towards the off side and takes a quick run.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Loopy delivery on off, Latham punches it towards point for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Flighted delivery on middle, Taylor comes down the track and plays it towards mid on for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on middle, Latham plays it towards point for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Floated delivery on off, Taylor drives it through covers for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Flighted delivery on middle, Taylor sweeps it to the leg side.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. BEATEN! Beauty of a delivery. Tossed up on off, Taylor looks to defend but misses the outside edge by a whisker.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Good length delivery on off, Latham defends it out.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. FOUR! On a good length and outside off, Latham looks to defend but gets an outside edge. It goes towards third man for a boundary.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Outside off, Latham leaves it alone.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. Short of a length delivery, Taylor pulls it through mid-wicket. The batsmen cross ends.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. Good length delivery outside off, Taylor shoulders arms to this one.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. On a good length on off, Taylor blocks it off the back foot.

Drinks Break! The hosts have picked two wickets and have put pressure on New Zealand straightaway. On the other hand, New Zealand need to play cautiously and try not to lose more wickets.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on middle, Latham defends it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated delivery on middle, Latham looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. NOT OUT! Flighted delivery on off, Latham looks to defend but gets hit on the pads. The bowler appeals for lbw but the umpire shakes his head. Hawk Eye shows that it is missing the off stump.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on middle, Latham keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham blocks it off the back foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. BEATEN! Tossed up just outside off, Latham looks to defend but misses it due to the turn on this one.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. Play and a miss! On a good length and outside off, Taylor looks to cut but misses it.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. Good length delivery outside off, Taylor shoulders arms to this one.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. BEATEN! On a good length and outside off, Taylor looks to drive but misses it due to the seam movement on this one.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Full on middle, Latham flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen get three runs.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. On a length on off, Taylor taps it towards point for a run.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Length delivery on middle, Latham flicks it towards square leg for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Tossed up on the pads, Ross looks to drive but it goes off the inner half of his bat towards mid-wicket.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Tossed up on the stumps, Ross gets on his front foot and keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Floated on off, Taylor blocks it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Flighted on off, Taylor taps it back to the bowler.

Dilruwan Perera to Ross Taylor. Floated outside off, Taylor looks to drive but with very minimal footwork. It goes off the inner half of his bat towards the on side.

Lahiru Kumara to Ross Taylor. Taylor is off the mark. Length ball around off, Taylor strokes it to point and keeps the strike.

Ross Taylor walks out at number 4.

Lahiru Kumara to Kane Williamson. OUT! Caught! Williamson departs against the run of play here. Big blow for the Kiwis. Good length ball outside off, Williamson tries to play his trademark tap towards the third man region. He ends up hitting it straight to second slip who was just a tad wide. Kusal Mendis there takes a very good catch. Smart captaincy this from Karunaratne to just keep that slip wide as that is Williamson's go-to region. Sri Lanka on top here.

Lahiru Kumara to Kane Williamson. Full on off, Latham drives it straight through mid on for a couple.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. On the pads, Latham glances it fine down the leg side for a run.

Lahiru Kumara to Kane Williamson. Full around off, Williamson plays a very good looking cover drive. Dhananjaya de Silva there does not gather it cleanly and that allows them to take a run.

Lahiru Kumara to Kane Williamson. Full on off, Williamson strokes it to mid off.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted on off, Latham blocks it onto the ground.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. On the pads, Williamson glances it to square leg for one.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. On the off pole, Williamson lunges forward and keeps it out.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Flights one on off, Williamson blocks it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Floated on the pads, Williamson flicks it to the on side for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Floated on off, Williamson looks to defend but gets a bottom edge onto the pads.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Down the leg side. Latham looks to flick but misses.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Back of a length ball on off, Latham defends it off his back foot.

Lahiru Kumara to Tom Latham. Good length ball on off, Tom keeps it out.

Lahiru Kumara to Kane Williamson. On the pads, Williamson flicks it to the on side and gets a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Kane Williamson. Huge appeal from the keeper but nothing from the bowler. Good length ball outside off, Williamson looks to play it late towards the third man region. He misses and the ball goes very closely past the outside edge towards the keeper. Dickwella goes up in a confident appeal but Lahiru does not join in. The umpire too is not interested.

Lahiru Kumara to Kane Williamson. The ball is way outside the off stump, easy leave for the batsman.

Lahiru Kumara is into the attack.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flighted delivery on off, Latham blocks it off the back foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Tossed up delivery on middle, Kane flicks it towards square leg for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Loopy delivery on middle, Williamson defends it off the back foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Floated delivery on middle, Williamson flicks it towards short leg.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Flighted delivery on off, Williamson drives it through covers. The batsmen pick up a couple.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Tossed up on off, Williamson defends it out.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Fuller on off, Latham blocks it.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Length ball on off, Tom defends it off the back foot.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Another play and miss! Bowls it on a length around off, Latham looks to defend but the ball nips away and squares Latham all ends up.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Good length ball on off, Latham defends it off the front foot.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Beauty! Lakmal hits the deck hard around off, asking the batter to have a poke at it. The ball zips away from Tom and just misses his outside edge.

Suranga Lakmal to Kane Williamson. Fuller on middle, Williamson glances it towards square leg for a single.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated outside off, TL does not tease that.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Appeal for an LBW but nothing from the umpire. Dilruwan bowls it flatter and quicker on off. It goes with the angle, Latham looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. A huge appeal from the Sri Lankan players but nothing from the umpire. It looked to be going down leg. Hawk Eye later on rolls in and shows that the ball was clipping the leg pole. Would have stayed with the on-field umpire's decision.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Arm ball on the pads, Latham flicks it towards mid-wicket.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floats one outside off, Latham leaves it alone.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated on off, Latham follows the boundary with a calm front foot defense.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. FOUR! Two boundaries in a row for New Zealand. It is short and Latham is quick to pounce on it. Short around off, Latham gets on his back foot and whips it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Suranga Lakmal to Kane Williamson. FOUR! Signature shot from Williamson. Fuller ball around off, Williamson plays it very late in his trademark style and taps it through the third man region for a boundary. Williamson loves that region. That shot was like a sweet poetry, always a delight.

Suranga Lakmal to Kane Williamson. On top of middle, Williamson defends it straight back towards the bowler.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Length delivery on off, Tom punches it towards cover for one.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Back of a length delivery on off, Tom defends it off the back foot.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Fuller outside off, Latham leaves it alone.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Good length ball on middle, Latham turns it behind square on the leg side for a couple.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Under edge to the rescue. Once again it is short but this is not as short as the previous one. It is on middle and leg, Williamson once again looks to pull it but gets a slight edge onto his pad.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. FOUR! Poor ball and rightfully punished. It is short on the body from Dilruwan. Williamson transfers the weight onto his back foot and swipes it away through square leg for a boundary.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Shorter on off, Latham punches it to the off side for a run.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Tossed up on off, Latham prods forward to defend but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.

Leg slip in place now.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flatter outside off, Latham leaves it alone.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Floated very full on middle, Latham paddles it fine down the leg side for a brace.

Suranga Lakmal to Kane Williamson. Good length delivery outside off, Kane lets it go.

Suranga Lakmal to Kane Williamson. Full on middle, Williamson drives it to mid on where the fielder does well to stop it with a dive.

Suranga Lakmal to Kane Williamson. Length delivery on middle, Williamson flicks it to square leg.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. On a length on middle, Latham flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Outside off, Latham shoulders arms to this one.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Good length ball outside off, Latham shoulders arms to it.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Nicely played. Short off spinner pitching on off. Williamson gets on his back foot and punches it with the spin through covers for a couple. Mathews there has a little chase with the ball. Two taken by the Kiwi captain.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Short on the pads, Latham flicks it wide of short leg, towards square leg for one.

Dilruwan Perera to Tom Latham. Flatter outside off, Latham was looking to play the premeditated sweep shot but then looking at the length he retracts from it.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Skipper Kane is off the mark. Flighted delivery on the pads, Williamson glances it to the on side and gets to the other end.

Dilruwan Perera to Kane Williamson. Floated on middle and leg, Williamson glances it to mid-wicket.

Skipper, Kane Williamson walks out at number 3. He did not have a good 1st Test but his side needs him to perform here.

Dilruwan Perera to Jeet Raval. OUT! Caught! Early blow for New Zealand. Jeet Raval goes out without troubling the scorers. Flighted delivery on off, it is an off spinner and slower through the air. Raval misreads this as he lunges forward to defend. The ball takes the outside edge and goes to first slip. Dhananjaya de Silva there takes a simple catch. A good welcome back to national fold for Dilruwan.

Dilruwan Perera to partner Lakmal.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Full and angling in on off. Latham pushes it to mid off. Maiden to start the new session.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. On the 4th stump line, Latham is in no mood to tease those.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Comes 'round the wicket and bowls it full on off. Latham defends it towards mid on with the angle.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Very good leave this from Latham. Length ball just outside the off stump. Latham is aware of his off stump and leaves it alone.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. On the pads, Latham flicks but finds square leg. He shouts a loud 'wait on' to his partner.

Suranga Lakmal to Tom Latham. Starts with a good length ball outside off. No swing on this one, Latham shoulders arms to it.

We are back for the second session. The Sri Lankan players are out on the field in their respective positions. Latham and Raval walk out to resume their innings. Pacer to start the new session as Suranga Lakmal has the ball in hand.

... Day 3, Afternoon Session ...

Sri Lanka have runs on the board, New Zealand have wickets in hand. Both teams would feel they have the edge heading into the break but Sri Lanka maybe the side with more positiveness. It will be interesting to see New Zealand's approach after the break as this Test is a must win for them. Not in the context of the series but also the ICC World Test Championship. Join us after the break for the second session.

New Zealand's bowling was taken aback by the counter-attacking approach by the Lankan batsmen and would feel they gave away at least 20 runs more. Boult, Southee and Ajaz Patel were the bowlers used today and all of them managed to get a minimum of a wicket.

The morning session belonged to just one man. DHANANJAYA DE SILVA! He has completely turned the game on its head. Starting the day with the Sri Lankan scorecard reading 144/6. It looked like 200 would be an achievement for them but Dhananjaya de Silva had other ideas. Having lost Dilruwan Perera early, de Silva fought with the tail, batted smartly too. First he added 43 with Lakmal, then a small 10-run stand and then a vital 20-run stand to take the Sri Lankan total close to 250 and getting his 5th Test hundred in the process.

New Zealand have managed to face out the tricky part before Lunch and go into the break with all 10 wickets intact.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Jeet Raval. Tossed up on off, Raval blocks it away to get to Lunch on Day 3.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Jeet Raval. Floated on off, Jeet gets on his front foot and defends it onto the ground.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. New Zealand are underway! Floated on the pads, Latham glances it towards mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Shorter on off, Latham defends it off his back foot this time.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Tossed up outside off, Tom reads the spin properly and leaves it alone.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Tom Latham. Starts with a flighted delivery on off, Latham calmly begins his innings with a front foot defense.

Dhananjaya de Silva to bowl from the other end.

Dilruwan Perera to Jeet Raval. Shorter on off, Jeet keeps it out of his back foot to get through the first over unscathed.

Dilruwan Perera to Jeet Raval. Arm ball outside off, Raval leaves it alone.

Dilruwan Perera to Jeet Raval. Oh! Quicker on off, Raval looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads. The Sri Lankan players are buzzing here.

Dilruwan Perera to Jeet Raval. Flighted on leg and middle, Raval once again defends it off the front foot.

Dilruwan Perera to Jeet Raval. Tossed up on off, Raval blocks it off his front foot this time.

Dilruwan Perera to Jeet Raval. Starts with a flatter delivery on off, Jeet Raval does well to defend it off the back foot.