Dimuth Karunaratne keeps Sri Lanka alive

Christchruch: Two late wickets by Trent Boult put New Zealand back in control of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday after a maiden Test century by Dimuth Karunaratne had briefly given the tourists a glimmer of hope.Sri Lanka were closing in on wiping out their 303-run first innings deficit with seven wickets in hand when Boult brought their cautious progress at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval to a halt.

He removed the defiant Karunaratne for 152 and Niroshan Dickwella for four as Sri Lanka were reduced to 293-5 at stumps, still 10 runs from making New Zealand bat again. Angelo Mathews is not out 53 with Tharindu Kaushal on five while Boult, New Zealand’s chief wicket-taker, has three for 62. Karunaratne was annoyed with his dismissal which came as he was about to appeal against the fading light.

“The light was a bit low. Boult was bowling beautifully at that time. I wanted to tell the umpires it was difficult to bat and just get to the dressing room,” he said.Karunaratne believed a lead of 150 was possible for Sri Lanka and would be competitive on a turning wicket.But New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling said Boult’s late double strike kept the initiative with the Black Caps. “To make the bang-bang tonight put us back in the position where we look comfortable,” Watling said.
   
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand (1st innings): 441
Sri Lanka (1st innings): 138
Sri Lanka (2nd innings): D. Karunaratne b Boult 152, K. Silva c Watling b Southee 33, K. Sangakkara c Watling b Boult 1, L. Thirimanne c Watling b Neesham 25, A Mathews (batting) 53, N. Dickwella c Neesham b Boult 4, T. Kaushal (batting) 5. Extras (lb19, nb1) 20. Total (for five wickets in 125 overs) 201.
FoW: 1-85, 2-94, 3-181, 4-277, 5-287.
Bowling: Boult 30-8-62-3, Southee 25-5-54-1, Wagner 27-6-67-0, Craig 34-10-67-0, Neesham 7-2-20-1, McCullum 1-0-3-0, Williamson 1-0-1-0.