Williamson, pacers give New Zealand upper hand

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2015Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne gave Sri Lanka a strong start with a 71-run partnership – Sri Lanka’s highest opening stand in 2015•AFPDoug Bracewell paved the way for New Zealand’s fightback by picking up two wickets in three balls•AFPThree overs later, New Zealand claimed the important wicket of Dinesh Chandimal thanks a sharp catch by Martin Guptill at leg gully•Getty ImagesTim Southee and Neil Wagner then went on to dismantle Sri Lanka’s line-up, picking seven wickets together, as only three batsmen managed double-digit scores•AFPMilinda Siriwardana tried to counterattack with a 18-ball 26, but fell to Wagner while trying to clear the midwicket boundary•Getty ImagesSri Lanka were dismissed for 133 after losing 10 wickets for 62 runs in only 13.5 overs, setting New Zealand a target of 189 to win•AFPNew Zealand lost their openers early, but Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson put them on course with a 67-run partnership for the third wicket•Getty ImagesWilliamson carried on after Taylor was dismissed for 35, bringing up his 13th Test fifty•Getty ImagesSri Lanka’s pacers, led by Dushmantha Chameera, kept them alive, dismissing Brendon McCullum and Mitchell Santner late in the day.•Associated PressWilliamson, unbeaten on 78, took New Zealand 142 for 5 at stumps, and will have a key role to play with the side still 47 runs away from a win.•AFP