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

We're done with the Test series! But before New Zealand head back home, they will be playing a 3-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The first one is on Sunday, 1st September at 1900 local (1330 GMT) in Pallekele. Do join us for that. Cheers!

Victorious New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson smiles and says that they lost the toss while replying to what they did differently from Galle. Calls it a terrific series and feels they deserve to share it. Tells that it's a great effort to push for victory on the final day and come out on top. Mentions that light is always a factor here and admits that's why they were getting a bit anxious also. Terms it an outstanding effort from his batters who scored at a rate which allowed them to move this game forward. States that it was a brilliant collective effort along with some individual brilliance. Tells that their bowlers did well in UAE as well and is glad that they got wickets at key moments. Further says that everyone will gain things personally and as a group, general growth is important. Pleased to get some points in Test Championship. Signs off by saying that he is looking forward to taking some time off.

Sri Lankan skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne starts by saying that it was a good wicket for batting and their first innings total wasn't enough. Feels that they needed more partnerships but kept on losing wickets. Mention about Dhananjaya's batting and counts it as a positive. States that once the batsmen get a start, they need to carry on just like Latham and Watling did. Wants his team to get more consistent.

BJ WATLING IS THE MAN OF THE SERIES! He scored 183 runs across two matches and played a couple of crucial knocks. There is no interview taken.

TOM LATHAM GETS THE MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD! He says that it's nice to contribute and partnerships with BJ Watling was really nice. Tells that as a batting unit, they want to build partnerships and he is glad that they got it. Smiles and says that the conditions here are a lot different and once again adds that he is happy to contribute. On his catch to dismiss Dickwella, Latham replies that he anticipated that shot and was lucky also as it hit Niroshan's arm-guard and slowed down. Praises his bowlers for picking all the wickets and setting up this win.

Test cricket is going through a purple patch! We are witnessing some enthralling performances worldwide and this victory for New Zealand, fighting on the final day, not just Sri Lanka but also the weather, is a cherry on the cake. They have shown that they can compete in subcontinent conditions and have only grown since their series win against Pakistan in the U.A.E. For Sri Lanka, they should have never lost this match and series but a defensive mindset cost them on the final day. Maybe, had they played their natural self, the result could have been different. Kudos to the Kiwi bowlers for their efforts. Their pacers and spinners, both, looked threatening and left their impact.

The star of the show for New Zealand has to be Tom Latham. His enterprising century set it up for the visiting team and one cannot undermine the contributions of BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme. On stop-start days, it was not easy for anyone and that's why these knocks from Latham, Watling and de Grandhomme were extra special. After earning a good lead this morning, the onus was on their bowlers to do some magic. They initiated superbly and reduced the Lankan team to half in no time. Karunaratne and Dickwella fought for some time but that wasn't enough. Dickwella did frustrate the Black Caps along with Suranga Lakmal for 107 balls but the visitors hung in there and eventually pulled out a memorable win, their best against Sri Lanka (by innings).

New Zealand have done it! It looked like an impossible task at the start of Day 5 but they have planned out a brilliant victory to level the Test series. Sri Lanka will be deeply disappointed with their batting efforts on the final day and this loss also breaks the winning streak for Dimuth Karunaratne as captain. This is how the ICC World Test Championship table looks like now - India (60), New Zealand (60), Sri Lanka (60), Australia (32) and England (32).

Trent Boult to Lasith Embuldeniya. OUT! Embuldeniya is bounced out! NEW ZEALAND WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 65 RUNS! A snorter by Boult. He digs in a well-directed short ball on middle and Embuldeniya is caught by surprise. He takes his eyes off the ball, tries to fend at it but the ball takes his gloves and balloons to Williamson at gully. The Kiwi skipper does the rest and it's a convincing win for the Black Caps to level the 2-match series.

Trent Boult to Lasith Embuldeniya. FOUR! Very full in length and sliding down the leg side, Embuldeniya gets bat on ball and flicks it behind square leg for a boundary.

Ajaz Patel to Lahiru Kumara. Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.

Ajaz Patel to Lahiru Kumara. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Ajaz Patel to Lahiru Kumara. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Ajaz Patel to Niroshan Dickwella. OUT! What have you done Dickwella? Pensive faces in the Sri Lankan dressing room. Ajaz serves a flighted full ball around off, Dickwella gets down to play the paddle sweep but there is some extra bounce and it takes the top half of his bat before deflecting from the arm-guard. The ball loops in the air and Latham moves across to his left in anticipation from forward short leg to grab a fine reflex catch. Dickwella is frustrated with himself. New Zealand celebrate. They can smell a win here, only 1 wicket more left to pick.

Ajaz Patel to Lasith Embuldeniya. Too full in length on off, Lasith brings his bat down and digs it out off the outer half to third man. A single taken. Not ideal for New Zealand.

Ajaz Patel to Lasith Embuldeniya. Beats the bat straightaway! Flighted and full outside off, not turning much, Embuldeniya tries to defend but misses.

Trent Boult to Niroshan Dickwella. Fullish and on off, it's pushed off the front foot to covers. New Zealand have achieved their objective. It will be Lasith Embuldeniya on strike in the next over.

Trent Boult to Niroshan Dickwella. Leading edge but safe! Boult spears in a very full ball on leg, Dickwella tries to flick but gets a big leading edge. Fortunately for Sri Lanka it goes wide of Taylor at covers. Good stop by the veteran with a dive.

Trent Boult to Niroshan Dickwella. Back of a length ball on off, Niroshan defends it from the back foot to covers.

Trent Boult to Niroshan Dickwella. Hurls in an inswinger outside off, Dickwella shoulders arms.

Trent Boult to Niroshan Dickwella. Goes fuller and darts it on off, Dickwella defends it to mid off.