28 Aug 2009

New Zealand cricketers narrowly avoid following-on

6:43 pm on 28 August 2009

The New Zealand cricketers have stuttered past the follow-on, in the second test against Sri Lanka in Colombo but been dismissed for 234, still 182 runs in arrears of Sri Lanka's first innings of 416.

Resuming the third day at 159 for five, they lost Brendan McCullum for 18 and Ross Taylor for 81 in quick succession, but crept past the follow-on target of 217, only for Daniel Vettori to depart soon afterwards for 23.

Jacob Oram made 24 while Ian O'Brien the last wicket to fall for four.

Spinners Muttiah Muralidaran and Ragana Herath were responsible for the Black Caps demise taking three wickets each.