The final margin of an innings and 154 runs registered as New Zealand’s 11th-worst loss in 472 tests and rounded out a series whitewash after a 63-run setback in the first test.
“It’s a very tough place to come – Sri Lanka are a very good side and particularly here in Galle,” Southee said. “We had our moments in that first test. I look back on that first innings, and if we were able to push on there and gain a bit more of a lead then things may have been different in the series.
“In the second match, we were on the wrong side of the toss and then weren’t able to make those early breakthroughs. It’s tough to come back from that.”
The two defeats all but end New Zealand’s hopes of reaching another World Test Championship final. They will now need at least five wins from three tests away to India and three at home against England.
The first series, which begins in Bengaluru in October 16, looms as a particularly daunting assignment given the batters’ struggles against Sri Lanka’s spin in conditions always favouring turn.
After the home side’s spin attack claimed 18 of 20 wickets to fall in the first test, they increased that number to 19 in the second. The 37 total scalps were the second-biggest haul by Sri Lanka’s spinners in a two-test series.
But the Black Caps will at least take a modicum of confidence to India after the way they played in the final three sessions of this encounter.
“We know it’s going to be tough in India – obviously conditions will favour spin there as well. We’ll learn as much as we can from these two,” Southee said.
Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips both made half-centuries. Photo / Sri Lanka Cricket
“The second innings was much more the way we want to play. Guys played in a positive manner and it was a big shift from the first innings. We were probably a little bit hesitant in the first innings, and second innings guys went out and played with confidence and were able to put on a decent score.”
The total of 360 equalled the fifth-best score made by a New Zealand team in their second turn with the bat in Asia, though it never threatened to be enough to make the hosts bat again.
Playing with freedom given the low stakes, Devon Conway (61 off 62) and Tom Blundell (60 off 64) shook off poor runs to form to raise their bats for the first time in test since the home summer of 2023.
Glenn Phillips (78) and Mitchell Santner (67) both launched some big blows before the latter was the last man out, giving debutant Nishan Peiris figures of 6-170 and nine total wickets on test debut.
“It was a much clearer way for the guys to play,” Southee said. “They went out and played their shots. I don’t think it was reckless at any stage…the tempo was right with moments to attack and moments to defend.
“When conditions are doing plenty, and spin was doing a lot, guys were able to absorb it at times and also able to put pressure back on the bowler.
“It was a pleasing innings. Obviously the result was very disappointing, but to see the guys play the way they did in the second innings was nice.”
