By Srian Obeyesekere

In a worst scenario 88 lowest ever first innings wrecking for 88, New Zealand was facing imminent defeat on ,195 for 5 following on and trailing Sri Lanka by 315 runs wilting under iron man Prabath Jayasuriya’s leg spin 6 for 42 siege with debutant off spinner Nishan Peiris’ 3 for 33 and 3 for 91 putting the hosts well on course to victory by the third day when bad light ended play early at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

New Zealand’s first innings resumption from overnight 22 for 2 was a play off of an overawed side by Sri Lanka’s mammoth 602 as it got under their skin in that carnage with key batsman Kane Williamson in Jayasuriya’s bag having added just one to his overnight 6, caught by Dhananjaya de Silva. Meanwhile, 37:year old Nishan Peiris did have a dream start with the wicket of Williamson in the second innings for 46 caught by substitute Ramesh Mendis. It ended Williamson’s 97 second innings second wicket counter attacking resistance mainly fronted by Devon Conway who scored a run a ball 61 before being removed by Dhananjaya de Silva caught by Chandimal.

New Zealand slipped to 121 for 5 by the 27th over which was steadied by the unfinished 74 sixth wicket fast tracking by Tim Blundell on 47 and Glenn Philips 52 as the duo chanced it particularly severe on Peiris with both hitting two sixes each.

New Zealand 88 (Santner 29, Jayasuriya 6-42, Peiris 3-33) and 199 for 5 (Conway 61, Blundell 47, Phillips 32, Peiris 3-91) trail Sri Lanka 602 for 5 dec by 315 runs