Latham, Nicholls tons put New Zealand on cusp of crushing win over Sri Lanka

Sport360 staff 14:07 28/12/2018
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  • Mammoth tons from Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls.

    Sri Lanka were staring at a comprehensive thrashing in their second Test against New Zealand at Christchurch following mammoth tons from Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls.

    Latham followed up his unbeaten double ton in the series opener with a fine 176 at Christchurch to strengthen New Zealand’s grip on the second Test while Nicholls remained unbeaten on a career-best 162 as the hosts declared their second innings at 585-4.

    Following an exhausting day on the field for Sri Lanka’s bowlers, their batsmen were put to the test in the final session and fared poorly as both openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Dimuth Karunaratne fell cheaply.

    The visitors were batting at 24-2 in their second innings when stumps were drawn on Friday.

    Earlier, the Kiwi batsmen continued to prosper on day three as Sri Lanka’s bowlers were given the run around. Resuming from their overnight score of 231-2, the hosts lost Ross Taylor (40) early to Lahiru Kumara.

    Latham and Nicholls then put on a 214-run stand for the fourth wicket before the former missed out on a second consecutive double ton after being dismissed by Dushmantha Chameera.

    A record half-century from Colin de Grandhomme.

    A record half-century from Colin de Grandhomme.

    There was no respite for the Sri Lankan bowlers despite Latham’s departure with all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme smashing the fastest Test half-century by any New Zealand batsman in history.

    Grandhomme got to his fifty off just 28 balls and remained unbeaten on a 45-ball 71 with the help of two sixes and six boundaries.

    With a further 636 runs required for victory with eight wickets in hand, the writing seems to be one the walls for the tourists who had escaped with a draw in the first Test of the two-series following the heroics from Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis.

    They will need a repeat of that, and a lot more, if they are to pull off another dramatic draw at Christchurch.

    BRIEF SCORES

    New Zealand: 178 and 585-4/d

    Tom Latham: 176 (370)

    Henry Nicholls: 162 not out (225)

    Sri Lanka: 104 and 24-2

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