DUNEDIN: New Zealand have beaten Sri Lanka by 122 runs in first Test played at University Oval in Dunedin on Monday.
Trent Boult took two quick wickets after lunch to help host complete victory over Sri Lanka on the fifth day of the game
The visitors were bowled out for 282 having been set 405 runs to win and while they were always chasing the game from day one, they made it difficult for Brendon McCullum’s side.
Having put 431 on the board after being sent in to bat, New Zealand needed 117 overs to bowl Sri Lanka out for 294 in their first innings, and were in the 96th over of the tourists’ second innings before seamer Doug Bracewell took a caught and bowled from Suranga Lakmal to end the game.
Sri Lanka were 6-224 at the lunch break on Monday before paceman Boult grabbed both Rangana Herath (six) and Milinda Sarawardana (29) in the first 20 minutes of the middle session.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner bowled Dushmantha Chameera for 14 and Lakmal belted four boundaries in his 23 before hitting the ball straight back to Bracewell.
The match swung sharply in New Zealand’s favour when Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal both suffered brain explosions at the crease during the extended first session.
The pair had looked comfortable on the benign pitch but both were out in quick succession for failing to offer shots.
Mathews was first to go, bowled for 25 by Neil Wagner (2-56), before Chandimal was trapped lbw for 58 by Santner (2-53).
The second match of the two-test series starts at Seddon Park in Hamilton on December 18.
