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's wicket was vital for New Zealand after the 26-year-old had stood in 87-run partnership with lahiru Thirimanne (25) for the third wicket and then a 97-run stand with Angelo Mathews. The left-hander had made a four-ball duck in his opening bat when Sri lanka were rolled for a paltry 138 in reply to New Zealand's 441 and were forced to follow on.
But he handled the occasion with aplomb as he easily surpassed his previous Test best of 85. lanka were in trouble when they lost two quick wickets at the start of the third day, including another failure by Kumar Sangakkara. But if New Zealand's hopes were up with Sri lanka at 94-2 and trailing by 209, Karunaratne had other ideas. With survival foremost in his mind he was in the middle for a shade over eight hours. Karunaratne started the day on 49 and reached his fifth half century with a single off the second ball.
Brief scores
New Zealand: 441 lead Sri lanka:138 & followed on 293/5 (Karunaratne 152, Mathews 53) by 10 runs.