Tim Southee rescued New Zealand with the bat then dragged his side back into the match with the ball after Sri Lanka's Suranga Lakmal's career-best figures had threatened to dominate the first day of the second test in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Southee counter-attacked with wicketkeeper BJ Watling to blast 68 from 65 balls and take New Zealand from the depths of despair on 64 for six after Lakmal had destroyed the top order on a green wicket at Hagley Oval.

The 30-year-old Southee and Watling (46) combined for 108-runs as New Zealand were dismissed for 178 with Lakmal finishing with five for 54.

First test centurion Angelo Mathews was on 27 with Roshen Silva (15) as the visitors were 88 for four at stumps, with neither team holding the advantage as both seek to win the two-match series with victory in Christchurch.

The first test in Wellington ended last week in a damp draw after virtually all of the final day's play was washed out.

The 31-year-old Lakmal, utilising the overcast, cool conditions and green pitch, had reduced the hosts to 36 for four after Dinesh Chandimal had won the toss and wasted little time in choosing to field.

Lakmal went to lunch having bowled 12 successive overs with figures of four for 18.

Southee, whose innings of 77 not out in his debut in 2008 remains his highest score, then decided attack was the best form of defence and belted six fours and three sixes to resurrect his side's fortunes.

His dismissal, to a brilliant, one-handed leaping catch by Danushka Gunathilaka at short mid-wicket, sparked another collapse with the last three wickets adding just six runs.

Southee then took the first three Sri Lankan wickets to reduce them to 21 for three inside 10 overs.

The second victim Chandimal for six moved him to 234 test wickets and third on New Zealand's all-time list.

Chris Martin had been in third on 233, although Southee is still a long way away from Daniel Vettori's 361 and Richard Hadlee's New Zealand-leading mark of 431 wickets.

After his initial spell, Southee continued to be a threat towards the end of the day's play as Silva and Mathews played and missed several times but saw their side through to stumps.

Tim Southee rescued New Zealand with the bat then dragged his side back into the match with the ball after Sri Lanka's Suranga Lakmal's career-best figures had threatened to dominate the first day of the second test in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Tim Southee rescued New Zealand with the bat then dragged his side back into the match with the ball after Sri Lanka's Suranga Lakmal's career-best figures had threatened to dominate the first day of the second test in Christchurch on Wednesday. Southee counter-attacked with wicketkeeper BJ Watling to blast 68 from 65 balls and take New Zealand from the depths of despair on 64 for six after Lakmal had destroyed the top order on a green wicket at Hagley Oval. The 30-year-old Southee and Watling (46) combined for 108-runs as New Zealand were dismissed for 178 with Lakmal finishing with five for 54. First test centurion Angelo Mathews was on 27 with Roshen Silva (15) as the visitors were 88 for four at stumps, with neither team holding the advantage as both seek to win the two-match series with victory in Christchurch. The first test in Wellington ended last week in a damp draw after virtually all of the final day's play was washed out. The 31-year-old Lakmal, utilising the overcast, cool conditions and green pitch, had reduced the hosts to 36 for four after Dinesh Chandimal had won the toss and wasted little time in choosing to field. Lakmal went to lunch having bowled 12 successive overs with figures of four for 18. Southee, whose innings of 77 not out in his debut in 2008 remains his highest score, then decided attack was the best form of defence and belted six fours and three sixes to resurrect his side's fortunes. His dismissal, to a brilliant, one-handed leaping catch by Danushka Gunathilaka at short mid-wicket, sparked another collapse with the last three wickets adding just six runs. Southee then took the first three Sri Lankan wickets to reduce them to 21 for three inside 10 overs. The second victim Chandimal for six moved him to 234 test wickets and third on New Zealand's all-time list. Chris Martin had been in third on 233, although Southee is still a long way away from Daniel Vettori's 361 and Richard Hadlee's New Zealand-leading mark of 431 wickets. After his initial spell, Southee continued to be a threat towards the end of the day's play as Silva and Mathews played and missed several times but saw their side through to stumps.

Southee rescues New Zealand with bat and ball after Lakmal blast

Sri Lanka reached 504-3 at stumps on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Friday.

Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva piled on the runs to put Sri Lanka in a comfortable position on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday.

Birthday boy Mendis just missed out on a double century, hitting an impressive 196, while de Silva added 173&nbsp;to trail Bangladesh`s first innings total by just nine runs.

Roshen Silva was unbeaten on 87 alongside skipper Dinesh Chandimal, 37 not out, when stumps were drawn at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam gave Bangladesh a rare occasion for joy on an arduous day when he removed Mendis just before the tea break.

Pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman earlier broke Mendis`s 308-run second wicket stand with de Silva, who added 69 runs to his overnight 104.

De Silva and Mendis dominated the Bangladesh bowlers for nearly two sessions after Sri Lanka resumed their innings on 187-1.

Bangladesh had to wait for the second new ball to get their first success as Mustafizur got a leading edge from de Silva for wicketkeeper Liton Das to complete a high catch.

De Silva faced 229 balls and hit 21 fours along with a six in his fourth Test century and the second in as many Tests.

Mendis, who faced 327 balls for his career best innings as he turned 23, added another 107 runs with Roshen Silva for the third wicket before he gave a catch to Mushfiqur Rahim at midwicket.

He survived a run-out when he had a mix-up with Roshen in the middle of the pitch after crossing his 150-run mark.

Mehedi Hasan made an awkward throw from extra cover after Mendis drove Taijul, allowing him to return to the pitch before wicketkeeper Liton could break the stumps.

Bangladesh were also unlucky in the morning as de Silva survived a strong lbw appeal on 119 off Taijul when the ball hit him on his toe before going to the slips.

With the hosts having already used both their reviews, they had no choice but to accept the decision of the on-field umpire.

Mendis hit left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam for a boundary to bring his fourth Test hundred off 200 balls.

De Silva reached his 1,000 runs in Tests on 154, joining Roy Dias as the quickest Sri Lankan to achieve the feat in his 23rd innings.

Kusal Mendis scored 196 runs while Dhananjaya de Silva made 173 runs

Sri Lanka reached 504-3 at stumps on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Friday. Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva piled on the runs to put Sri Lanka in a comfortable position on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday. Birthday boy Mendis just missed out on a double century, hitting an impressive 196, while de Silva added 173 to trail Bangladesh`s first innings total by just nine runs. Roshen Silva was unbeaten on 87 alongside skipper Dinesh Chandimal, 37 not out, when stumps were drawn at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam gave Bangladesh a rare occasion for joy on an arduous day when he removed Mendis just before the tea break. Pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman earlier broke Mendis`s 308-run second wicket stand with de Silva, who added 69 runs to his overnight 104. De Silva and Mendis dominated the Bangladesh bowlers for nearly two sessions after Sri Lanka resumed their innings on 187-1. Bangladesh had to wait for the second new ball to get their first success as Mustafizur got a leading edge from de Silva for wicketkeeper Liton Das to complete a high catch. De Silva faced 229 balls and hit 21 fours along with a six in his fourth Test century and the second in as many Tests. Mendis, who faced 327 balls for his career best innings as he turned 23, added another 107 runs with Roshen Silva for the third wicket before he gave a catch to Mushfiqur Rahim at midwicket. He survived a run-out when he had a mix-up with Roshen in the middle of the pitch after crossing his 150-run mark. Mehedi Hasan made an awkward throw from extra cover after Mendis drove Taijul, allowing him to return to the pitch before wicketkeeper Liton could break the stumps. Bangladesh were also unlucky in the morning as de Silva survived a strong lbw appeal on 119 off Taijul when the ball hit him on his toe before going to the slips. With the hosts having already used both their reviews, they had no choice but to accept the decision of the on-field umpire. Mendis hit left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam for a boundary to bring his fourth Test hundred off 200 balls. De Silva reached his 1,000 runs in Tests on 154, joining Roy Dias as the quickest Sri Lankan to achieve the feat in his 23rd innings.

Sri Lanka 504-3 at stumps in first Bangladesh Test

roshen-silva

Roshen Silva, News on Roshen Silva, stories on Roshen Silva, articles on Roshen Silva, Roshen Silva stories at Wion, Roshen Silva news, Roshen Silva latest news

roshen silva

Southee rescues New Zealand with bat and ball after Lakmal blast

Sri Lanka 504-3 at stumps in first Bangladesh Test