New Zealand takes control in Colombo

New Zealand put themselves into a good position at the end of day two of the second Test at the P Sara Oval after reducing Sri Lanka to 43-3, still trailing by 369 runs.

Resuming on 223-2, stubborn lower-order resistance helped the tourists reach 412 after a flurry of wickets saw them collapse from 276-2 to 300-6.

Ross Taylor (142) and Kane Williamson (135) had earlier advanced their third-wicket partnership to 262 before the former was trapped lbw by Rangana Herath.

Slow left-armer Herath took 6-103 - making it 17 wickets in three innings in the series - but it took him 49 overs in so doing, suggesting some lessons had been learnt by the Kiwi batsmen since the first Test drubbing.

Williamson duly scored the five runs needed to reach his third Test century in the morning session but it required a further 25 deliveries before the right-hander got an outside to third man to reach the landmark.

The right-hander moved on to his highest Test score before he missed a sweep and was trapped lbw by Herath, the second of three quick wickets for the spinner.

Daniel Flynn (53) marshalled the tail with a stubborn half-century as New Zealand managed to keep the hosts in the field for 153 overs.

Sri Lanka's experienced top order betrayed signs of fatigue in the reply when they slumped to 12-3 in the sixth over.

Tim Southee dismissed Tillakaratne Dilshan (5) and Kumar Sangakarra (0) in the space of three balls in his second over before Trent Boult had Mahela Jayawardene (4) caught in the gully.
Tharanga Paranavitana (9 not out) and Angelo Mathews (20 not out) survived until bad light ended play early but there is much for the fourth-wicket pair to do on day three.