Cricket: Black Caps in trouble

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand's inconsistent batting line-up fractured on cue today as Sri Lanka backed up Thilan Samaraweera's century with a clinical bowling display at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

At stumps on day two of the second test New Zealand were in a predicament reminiscent of last week's first test in Galle - trying to avoid the follow on after mounting a limp reply to Sri Lanka's first innings of 416.

New Zealand were 159 for five at the close, the loss of two wickets in seven balls as the shadows lengthened summing up their gloomy situation.

Their first priority is to reach 217 and remove the prospect of being asked to bat a second time by Kumar Sangakkara.

Jesse Ryder's departure with eight overs remaining snapped the only promising stand of the response so far.

The first three batsmen had come and gone by 15.4 overs, leaving Ross Taylor and Ryder to repair the damage by trying to emulate Mahela Jayawardene and Samaraweera's 180-run stand for the fourth wicket.

They managed only 85 before left arm orthodox spinner Ragana Herath had Ryder caught at bad pad by Tharanga Paranavitana for 23 from 92 balls, leaving Taylor as the beacon of hope.

Taylor resumes on 70 tomorrow, aware his fifth half century will need to be converted into a fifth test century if New Zealand are to get within range of Sri Lanka's tally. McCullum restarts on five.

New Zealand's innings started bizarrely when opening batsman and occasional spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan had first use of the new ball but then reverted to type.

Tim McIntosh, the first innings cornerstone in Galle, fell leg before wicket in the third over for five to Dammika Prasad's first ball then Daniel Flynn's struggles continued when he sparred Thilan Thushara to diving wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Martin Guptill and Taylor survived to tea but the opener was soon guilty of another excruciating dismissal when he top edged the fourth short ball of a Thushara over to Muralitharan at deep square leg.

Guptill's exit for 35 represented the second consecutive innings Thushara had tempted him to pull with disastrous results after the aggressive right hander chopped on to his stumps in Galle.

Samaraweera was never likely to depart in similar circumstance, though an ambitious reverse sweep ended his majestic 143 from 240 balls as the tail tumbled around him.

The 32-year-old's fourth century of the year - and his smallest - formed the basis of Sri Lanka's imposing first innings .

Separating Mahela Jayawardene and Samaraweera was always going to be critical for New Zealand when Sri Lanka resumed on 262 for three.

And although the duo only added another 33 before the former captain was denied a record 10th century on his home ground, it already looms as the significant point of difference.

Samaraweera and Chamara Kapugedera then added 72 but once the allrounder became the first Patel victim the innings degenerated, Sri Lanka losing their last five wickets for 27.

Despite bowling without the control and economy of Daniel Vettori, Patel ended with four for 78 from 20 overs and flirted with a hattrick when dismissing Prasad and Herath in successive balls.

He was denied that accolade but had Samaraweera caught by McCullum, ending a master class that contained 17 boundaries and a six.

Vettori was in danger of not adding to the yesterday's haul that enabled him to join the 300-wicket 3000-run club but deservedly claimed tailender Thushara to finish with three for 104 from 40.3 overs.

- NZPA