Cricket: Vettori makes 140 - fails to save Black Caps

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A valiant century by New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori was not enough to stave off a 96-run loss to Sri Lanka in the second cricket test in Colombo.

Sri Lanka completed a 2-0 series triumph late in the final day's middle session at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground when New Zealand's rearguard action ended on 397.

Vettori led his outgunned side from the front, and was resolute to the end - a richly deserved 140 - his fourth test century and highest test score - appropriately marking his contribution to a series in which he was New Zealand's leading run scorer and wicket taker.

His strokeplay was to the fore as he progressed to his second ton of the year, four days after he became the eighth allrounder to complete the test double of 300 wickets and 3000 runs.

Vettori eclipsed the unbeaten 137 he made against Pakistan in Hamilton in late 2003 before he was last out, caught sweeping by Rangana Herath to give Muttiah Muralitharan his 82nd and final New Zealand test scalp.

Vettori figured in two partnerships that frustrated Sri Lanka either side of a 35-minutes rain delay.

Jacob Oram and Vettori added 124 for the seventh wicket while Iain O'Brien also provided valuable support to his captain with a 75-ball 12 made over 79 minutes.

O'Brien eventually completed left-arm spinner Herath's third five-wicket haul in tests - five for 139 from 48 overs.

Muralitharan, who will not face New Zealand again before he retires from test cricket in 2011 had three for 85 despite being hampered by a groin strain.

Sri Lanka's success follows a 202-run win in Galle and solidifies their status as the world's No.2 ranked-test nation behind South Africa.

New Zealand languish in seventh on the International Cricket Council's ladder -- and although the gulf between the teams is large, the tourists at least produced a fight display that was non-existent yesterday.

Heading into the final day, New Zealand's priority was to survive 98 overs spread three sessions - the victory target of 494 immaterial after the tourists flopped to 182 for six by stumps on day four.

The end seemed imminent when Oram's 56 ended tamely with only seven balls left in the morning session though Vettori, who faced 189 balls and struck 16 boundaries, found a useful ally in O'Brien as they added 69 for the eighth wicket.

While Vettori's reputation is unsullied New Zealand coach Andy Moles bemoaned a batting performance that placed the match beyond reach yesterday.

"The disappointing aspect is all the batsmen got themselves out," Moles said.

A former opening bat with English county Warwickshire, Moles said the players had prepared extensively but were unable to put theory into practice.

"For the last month they've been watching tape of the Sri Lankan bowlers. It just bemuses me, it's very disappointing, very frustrating. We've got some wonderfully talented young players but unfortunately they're making the same mistakes over and over again.

"We're losing games and not learning from it, which to me is a crime."

While Tillakaratne Dilshan's whirlwind innings' in Galle were pivotal in Sri Lanka winning the series opener by 202 runs, statistically their middle order of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera figure as the significant point of difference.

Samaraweera scored as many runs in one knock at Galle --159 -- that New Zealand's leading batsman Ross Taylor accrued in four innings.

He was responsible for two of Sri Lanka's five centuries, while Dilshan and Jayawardene were also dismissed in the 90s.

Samaraweera's aggregate of 347 at 86.75 dwarfed New Zealand's biggest contributor -- Vettori's 272 at 68 mostly while batting at No 8.

Jayawardene and Sangakkara also scored heavily while Taylor and Jesse Ryder never failed to make double figures but could not push on.

New Zealand recorded just six half centuries and the Vettori ton.

The ability to build telling partnerships also guaranteed Sri Lanka a position of strength.

- NZPA