Sri Lanka showed enough in an eight-wicket defeat to ensure the Black Caps will take nothing for granted when they try to close out their two-Test cricket series in Wellington.
New Zealand won the opening encounter in Christchurch with a day to spare, after putting on 441 when sent in to bat and then bowling out the opposition for 138.
But top-order batsman Kane Williamson also points to the tourists’ fightback in the second innings, led by opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s career-high 152.
“The first innings in Christchurch was huge for us, to put together a strong total and bowl as well as we did,” he said.
“But we did see in the second innings how they can perform here and occupy the wicket when it’s doing a bit.”
Williamson said Sri Lanka also proved in England last June, when they beat their hosts 1-0 in a two-Test series, that they had the wherewithal to succeed in unfamiliar conditions.
“It was nice to get that win, but certainly we know we’re up against a really strong challenge,” he said.
Sri Lanka could be boosted at the Basin Reserve by the return of ace spinner Rangana Herath, who was absent from Hagley Oval because of a hamstring injury.
The left-armer, the leading Test wicket-taker in 2014 with 60 scalps, is rated the world’s No 3 bowler, and the leading spinner, in the ICC player rankings.
Williamson has plenty of respect for “a fantastic player”.
“The role of a spinner can be a little bit different in New Zealand,” he said.
“But in saying that, they still have a big role to play and at the Basin there’s obviously that bounce for the spinners, and maybe a little bit of turn later one, so he’s obviously a key player for them.”
