Kiwis gain big lead in 2nd Test

COLOMBO (AFP) –

New Zealand’s Tim Southee (C) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Tharanga Paranavitana during the third day of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at the P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on November 27, 2012. Southee completed a five-wicket haul to help New Zealand gain a big lead.

Tim Southee completed a five-wicket haul to help New Zealand gain a big lead over Sri Lanka on the penultimate day of the second and final Test at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo.

The fast bowler finished with 5-62 for his third five-wicket haul in a Test innings and left-arm paceman Trent Boult with 4-42 as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 244 in their first innings in reply to New Zealand’s 412.

The tourists were 59-2 in their second innings at lunch for an overall lead of 227 with eight wickets in hand, with Kane Williamson (11 not out) and skipper Ross Taylor (one not out) at the crease.

Martin Guptill (11) was caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan on second attempt at gully off paceman Shaminda Eranga while Brendon McCullum was stumped off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath after scoring a 43-ball 35 with seven fours.

New Zealand earlier required just 7.4 overs of pace in the morning to claim the last four wickets for just 19 after the hosts had resumed at 225-6, with Boult taking three and Southee one.

Boult struck in successive overs when he had middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera (76) caught by Guptill at second slip and then trapped Suraj Randiv (39) leg-before.

Samaraweera fell at his overnight score while lower-order batsman Randiv made just five in the morning. The pair added 97 for the seventh wicket.

Southee then had Nuwan Kulasekara (six) caught by Taylor at first slip before Boult ended the innings with the wicket of Herath (five), who fell to a brilliant left-handed catch by Williamson at gully.

Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 following their 10-wicket victory in the opening Test in Galle.