New Zealand break through Mathews-Chandimal resistance to take 1st Test by 122 runs on Day 5

The crucial breakthrough on Day 5 – Neil Wagner uprooting Angelo Mathews’ middle stump

After resisting some dogged determination by Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal in the first hour of play on Day 5, New Zealand wrapped up the Lankan lower order in a very short time in the 1st Test at Dunedin. The hosts won the match by 122 runs, their 50th Test win at home, to go 1-0 up in the series.

The second and final Test match of the series starts on 18th of December at Hamilton, and the visitors now will try to level the series.

Both teams went into the final day with a chance to win, and both teams showed positive intent. Requiring almost 300 runs to win, Sri Lanka started on the offensive, and Brendon McCullum did not mind the leaking of runs either.

However, after the dismissal of Mathews, and Chandimal soon after, New Zealand were the only team who were pushing for victory. The rest of the Lankan batsmen could not put up a stiff enough resistance, and it was clear by lunch that a massive effort was needed by them to save the match.

That effort did not come from any quarter, as Trent Boult and Tim Southee shared 5 wickets among them, shooting the Lankan second innings down for 282, 122 runs short of the target of 400, earlier set up by a sporting declaration by McCullum.

Martin Guptill, for his 202 runs spread over two innings, was announced as the Man of the Match.

New Zealand have now not lost a Test match at home since 2012, the 12-match unbeaten streak just short of the record of 13 matches in the 1987-1991 period.

SL 2^nd Innings:

Dimuth Karunaratne 29 (72)

Kusal Mendis 46 (150)

Udara Jayasundera 3 (15)

Dinesh Chandimal 58 (132)

Angelo Mathews 25 (61)

Kithuruwan Vithanage 38 (38)

Milinda Siriwardana 29 (39)

Rangana Herath 6 (15)

Dushmantha Chameera 14 (13)

Suranga Lakmal 23 (27)

Nuwan Pradeep 4* (10)

Trent Boult – 2/58; Tim Southee – 3/52; Doug Bracewell – 1/46; Mitchell Santner – 2/53; Neil Wagner – 2/56

FINAL WICKET. It's all over. Lakmal c & b Bracewell. BLACKCAPS win the 1st ANZ Test by 122 runs. Guptill Man of the Match #NZvSL ^WN

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 14, 2015