WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — A world record sixth-wicket partnership of 365 by Kane Williamson and BJ Watling, who both posted career bests, slammed the door on Sri Lanka in the second Test in Wellington yesterday.
Williamson’s unbeaten 242, with Watling not out 142, rescued New Zealand from a deep hole and carried them to 524-5 declared in their second innings.
Sri Lanka were left facing a 390-run final-day target on a ground where the record for a successful fourth innings chase is 277-3 set by Pakistan 11 years ago.
At stumps they were 45-1 with Kaushal Silva on 20 and Dhammika Prasad on one.
Dimuth Karunaratne was out for 17 four overs before the close, the only dismissal of the day.
With wickets hard to come by on a flat track, and Sri Lanka holding middle-order strength led by Kumar Sangakkara, a draw seemed the likely outcome. This would give New Zealand the two-Test series 1-0.
Williamson and Watling came together as New Zealand’s last recognised batsmen with the score on 159-5, a perilous 24-run lead. They methodically ground the Sri Lankan bowlers into submission over the following eight hours.
Williamson said their focus was on occupying the crease to save New Zealand and records were secondary.
“We needed to draw on that to bat as long as we did. That was very much the motivating factor. Talk about 100s or 200s, it’s great to get them but more important to keep going to put the team in a better position,” he said.
Sri Lanka need a further 345 on the final day to win. While the odds favour New Zealand, Williamson said both sides fancied a result.
“We know if we put it in the right areas and bowl the way we know we can, we can create opportunities, but anyone with someone like Kumar Sangakkara in their team will certainly have confidence, and it’s set up for a really good day’s cricket.”
New Zealand declared 13 runs ahead of the previous sixth-wicket record of 352 set by Watling with Brendon McCullum in similar Test-saving circumstances against India a year ago.
Then, as now, New Zealand were fighting to claim the series after winning the first Test.
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