Frenetic start set game up, bowlers’ toil sealed it: McCullum

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews (left) makes a run with teammate Dinesh Chandimal looking on during day five of the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin.

Neither looked troubled on the benign pitch and with Trent Boult and Tim Southee not able to get the older ball to reverse, captain Brendon McCullum was forced to go into a holding pattern and attempt to force an error rather than attack the batsmen.

Chandimal made 58 and Mathews 25 in a 56-run partnership for the fourth wicket which offered Sri Lanka a slim chance of saving or even winning the match as it chased 405 for victory.

McCullum surprised many on Sunday with a declaration that set a target of 405 to win, when a total above 450 might have been safer.

From that moment, it appeared only a matter of time before New Zealand wrapped up the victory against a rebuilding Sri Lanka which paid for its lack of experience.

New Zealand seized on the opportunity as Mitchell Santner (2-53) had Chandimal trapped lbw to restrict Sri Lanka to 165 for five.

New Zealand have been peppering Sir Lanka’s batsmen with short balls throughout the match, which may have contributed to skipper Angelo Mathew’s unusual dismissal after the break.

With play starting half an hour early to compensate for the three rain breaks on Sunday, Sri Lanka resumed the day at 109 for 3.

Kane Williamson quickly completed a half-century and advanced to 71 before being bowled by Dushmantha Chameera.

“There was obviously times when there was a bit of resistance there and we had to just keep plugging away and I thought that’s where Neil Wagner really stepped up for us and he bowled those “dead overs” with hostility”, McCullum said. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka’s second and final Test ended in a draw in Chittagong, giving the tourists a 1-0 series win.

McCullum was 17 not out when he declared, with Tom Latham unbeaten on 109, having notched up his third Test century.

Watling claimed six catches in the first innings, and has taken all three so far in the second, to be three short of breaking the world record.

Latham, who appeared to have hit the ball first, was credited with two runs from that shot then flicked a single off Herath two balls later to bring up his third test century.

“But when you have guys like Neil Wagner who is going to come in and bowl long and hostile spells leading up to a new ball then you know you’re going to be in the game”.