CHRISTCHURCH: Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls made record centuries and Colin De Grandhomme a record half-century as New Zealand plundered 585-4 in their second innings against the struggling Sri Lanka side on the third day of the second Test.

Latham made 176 following his 264 in the first Test at Wellington, while Nic­holls slammed a career-best unbea­ten 162, and de Grandhomme dashed to the fastest 50 by a New Zealander in Tests, finishing 71 not out when the declaration came with a massive lead of 659.

After toiling in the field for 153 overs at the Hagley Oval, Sri Lanka’s batsmen were forced to pad up and try to survive the last hour of the day to keep alive the tourists’ faint hopes of saving the two-match series. Those odds became longer when Dimuth Karuna­ratne (0) fell in the first over of the innings and Danushka Gunathilaka (4) five balls later.

Captain Dinesh Chandimal was joined by rising star Kusal Mendis to guide Sri Lanka to stumps without further loss, but two full days stretch ahead. At stumps, Sri Lanka was 26-2 with Chandimal 14 not out and Mendis on six.

In Sri Lanka’s favour, they still have to Angelo Mathews, by far their best batsman in this series with scores of 83, 121 not out and 33 not out.

Mathews put on an unbroken 274 with Mendis to save the first Test which was drawn at the Basin Reserve.

But New Zealand will go into the fourth day in a position of overwhelming strength, thanks to Latham and Nicholls, who put on 214 for the fourth wicket and scored similar centuries on their shared home ground at Hagley Oval.

Latham achieved his eighth Test century and in his second in consecutive Tests while Nicholls made his fourth and his highest score, beating his previous best of 145.

De Grandhomme came in when Latham was out, caught down the leg side by wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella from the last ball before tea, and blasted a half century from 28 balls, beating the record of his current team-mate Tim Southee (29 balls) for the fastest Test 50 by a New Zealander.

He hastened the declaration which came at 5.05pm as captain Kane Williamson asked Sri Lanka to score an improbable 660 to win the match. Australia’s successful chase for 418 against the West Indies at St John’s in 2003 remains the best in Test history. Sri Lanka would also have to make the second-highest fourth-innings total in Tests to win the match and series.

“In this game of cricket I guess you have more disappointing days than successful ones so it’s nice to enjoy the good days,” Latham said.

Latham personally ensured New Zealand’s control of the match as he built their second innings in partnerships of 121 for the first wicket with Jeet Raval (74), 68 for the second with Williamson (48) and 58 for the third with Ross Taylor.

Latham reached his century from 267 balls as his father Rod, also a New Zealand opening batsman looked on from the stands.

Nicholls, meanwhile, reached his from 171 balls and was profusely saluted by family and friends.

Scoreboard NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings) 178 (T.G. Southee 68, B.J. Watling 46; R.A.S. Lakmal 5-54, C.B.R.L.S. Kumara 3-49).
SRI LANKA (1st Innings) 104 (A.D. Mathews 33 not out; T.A. Boult 6-30, T.G. Southee 3-35). NEW ZEALAND (2nd Innings, overnight 231-2): J.A. Raval c Mendis b Perera 74
T.W.M. Latham c Dickwella b Chameera 176
K.S. Williamson c Mendis b Kumara 48 L.R.P.L. Taylor lbw b Kumara 40
H .M. Nicholls not out 162
C. de Grandhomme not out 71
EXTRAS (B-5, LB-3, W-3, NB-3) 14
TOTAL (for four wkts decl, 153 overs) 585
FALL OF WKTS: 1-121, 2-189, 3-247, 4-461. BOWLING: Lakmal 30-6-96-0; Kumara 32-6-134-2 (1w); Chameera 30-5-147-1 (2nb, 2w); Perera 41-3-149-1 (1nb); Gunathilaka 16-2-45-0; Karunaratne 4-2-6-0. SRI LANKA (2nd Innings): M.D. Gunathilaka c Watling b Southee 4
F.D.M. Karunaratne c Watling b Boult 0
L.D. Chandimal not out 14
B.K.G. Mendis not out 6
EXTRAS 0
TOTAL (for two wkts, 14 overs) 24
FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-9. BOWLING (to-date): Boult 7-3-11-1; Southee 7-5-13-1.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...