Watch! High winds causes mayhem during the 2nd test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan cricket team departed for New Zealand with a remote chance of making it to the finals of the World Test Championships. The island nation needed to win the series 2-0 and hope the India- Australia series also carried a favorable result. Sri Lankan team and its fans though saw its team being blanked 2-0 as they lost the 2nd and final test by an innings and 58 runs on Monday.

Single ended coverage issues –

Basin Reserve in Wellington was the venue for the 2nd and final test match of the series. The ground was witnessing heavy winds, as the camera personnel in the ground were having issues. Even the commentators made a note of this face during the broadcast.

Due to heavy winds, one side of the ground saw the cameramen perched on top of a makeshift stand. As the winds were getting quicker and nastier, it was decided the cameramen would stop broadcasting from that end. In a throwback to the older times of cricket, the entire broadcast was done from only one side.

Michael Bracewell all smiles after wind makes the ball misbehave –

The on-air commentators were still discussing the unforeseen incidents, that’s when one more incident took place. Michael Bracewell, was bowling to Prabath Jayasuriya, when the ball due to the wind nearly landed out of the playing strip. The Kiwi player could only smile as the commentators were amazed at the spectacle in front of them.

Sri Lanka were asked to follow-on after being bowled out for mere 164 in their 1st innings. Sri Lanka ended day 3 at 113/2 with Kusal Mendis and Angelo Matthews batting. Matt Henry got the 1st wicket of the day when he had Mendis out for 50. Tickner then got the wicket of Matthews for 2 to reduce Sri Lanka to 116/4.

Dhananjaya De Silva and Dinesh Chandimal then counter attacked to 126 runs in 30 odd overs. The stand was broken when Chandimal was out for 62, De Silva top scored with 98, while Nishan Madhuska and Kasun Rajitha scored 39 and 20 each. Tim Southee and Blair Tickner picked 3 wickets each, while Bracewell got 2.

Williamson and Nicholls deflate Sri Lanka –

New Zealand notched a massive 580/4 before declaring their innings, while scoring at over 4 runs per over. Kane Williamson who had scored a ton in the 1st test, followed it up with 215 in the 2nd test. Williamson scored his runs off 296 balls with 23 fours and 2 sixes.

Henry Nicholls scored his best test score to notch up his 1st double ton. Nicholls was not out on 200 from 240 balls with 15 fours and 4 sixes. Devon Conway chipped in with 78 off 108 balls. Kasun Rajitha was the lead wicket taker for the Lankans with 2 wickets.

Karunaratne stands tall despite Lankans batting ruins –

In their 1st innings, SL were all out for 164, with captain Dimuth Karunaratne the only bright spark. The left hander scored 89 off 188 balls with 9 fours, Dinesh Chandimal (37) and Nishan Madushka (19), were the only batters to reach double figures. Matt Henry and Michael Bracewell picked 3 wickets each, while Tim Southee, Blair Tickner and Doug Bracewell picked a wicket each for the hosts.