New Zealand wickets have tumbled on the second afternoon of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Hamilton.
The Black Caps staggered to tea on 133 for five, following a top order batting collapse.
The hosts had made it to 81 without loss following lunch as they chase the tourists’ first innings of 292, before four wickets fell in quick succession to have the hosts teetering on 89 for four.
Brendon McCullum then survived a catch on a no-ball, but the captain was quickly sent packing after that just before the break, caught at silly point for 18 off the bowling of Rangana Herath.
At tea all-rounder Mitchell Santner was 22 not out, with BJ Watling the new man at the crease yet to score.
The Black Caps’ top order fell in just 25 balls on the second afternoon at Seddon Park.
They were 61 for none at lunch before four wickets fell in quick succession.
Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor all departed in just 25 balls for a mere eight runs.
Opening batsman Latham was caught in the slips for 28, followed by first drop Kane Williamson at deep square leg for one, both off the bowling of Dushmantha Chameera.
Then the other opener Martin Guptill was caught in the slips the next ball after he reached his 50, off Herath.
Taylor was caught behind for a duck shortly afterwards, becoming Chameera’s third scalp of the afternoon.
The Black Caps bowled Sri Lanka out for 292 on the second morning, after the tourists resumed on 264 for seven.
Their captain Angelo Mathews top-scored with 77.
The hosts snapped up the final three wickets on the second morning, sparked by the loss of the Sri Lanka skipper.
Mathews, who resumed on 63 and was the key to his team’s bid to push past 300, brought up 4,000 Test runs with a single off Tim Southee from the second delivery of the day before being well caught for 77 by third slip Tom Latham off the same bowler.
Suranga Lakmal was then removed for four, caught in the field by Kane Williamson off the bowling of Neil Wagner.
Play began half an hour early at 10am to make up for the opening day’s early finish, with fine, sunny weather in Hamilton.