SL vs NZ 2nd Test: Hosts aim series whitewash against gritty visitors

Sri Lanka was 345 runs behind while New Zealand needs nine more wickets for a win as the second and final Test match between the two sides ended for the fourth day, promising an exciting final day, at Wellington today (6).   Sri Lanka was 45 for the loss of one wicket, at stumps on Day 4, after New Zealand put themselves at a strong position, helped by an unbroken partnership of 365 for the sixth wicket between Kane Williamson and BJ Watling.   The pair took New Zealand to 524 for 5 wickets before deciding to declare and giving Sri Lanka a target of 390 runs with four sessions remaining.   Williamson, who made 69 runs in the first innings remained unbeaten on 242 after facing 438 deliveries and hitting 18 fours.   Watling made 142 not out after facing 333 deliveries and hitting nine fours and a six.   Sri Lanka made 356 in reply to New Zealand’s first innings total of 221 runs with Kumar Sangakkara making 203 runs off 306 deliveries.   He hit 18 fours and three sixes and become the second Test cricketer to claim the highest number of double centuries (11), only one behind the former Australian great Sir Don Bradman.   New Zealand   First innings 221 all out (55.1) (Hamish Rutherford 37, Kane Williamson 69, Ross Taylor 35, James Neesham 15, Doug Bracewell 16, Nuwan Pradeep 4/63, Suranga Lakmal 3/71, Dhammika Prasad 2/50)   Second innings 524 for 5 wickets (172) declared (Tom Latham 35, Hamish Rutherford 40, Kane Williamson 242n.o, Brendon McCullum 22, James Neesham 19, BJ Watling 142n.o, Nuwan Pradeep 3/117)   Sri Lanka   First innings 356 all out (102.1) (Dimuth Karunaratne 16, Kumar Sangakkara 203, Angelo Mathews 15, Dinesh Chandimal 67, Rangana Herath 15, James Neesham 3/42, Doug Bracewell 3/93, Trent Boult 2/75)   Second innings 45 for 1 wickets (17) at stumps Day 4 (Dimuth Karunartne 17, Kaushal Silva 20n.o, Dhammika Prasad 1n.o.)