New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: Tom Latham’s hundred gives hosts the edge over Islanders

New Zealand opener Tom Latham scored a stylish hundred as the hosts further tightened their grip on the game.

The left-hander remained unbeaten on 121 at the end of the second day’s play as they scored 311/2 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 282.

The pitch that looked like a fast bowlers paradise turned into a batting friendly wicket with the batsmen getting off to starts with Ross Taylor scoring a 50. Skipper Kane Williamson was dismissed for 91.

Also read: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: Tim Southee’s pace rattles visitors

But while batsmen like Jeet Raval threw away his wicket while batting on 43, Latham assessed the pitch well and played a responsible innings as he scored his seventh Test hundred and didn’t really look to be in trouble at all during his stay. He stitched a 162-run stand with his captain and build a strong foundation for the innings to launch into a big score.

Williamson’s failure to get to a hundred didn’t spoil his record against the Islanders as he still has three hundreds in a total of seven Test matches played.

Earlier, Sri Lanka could not add much to their overnight total of 275/9 as Kumara was dismissed by five-star man Tim Southee who had his sixth victim at the Basin Reserve. Niroshan Dickwella, who was waging a lone battle remained not out on 80.