Taylor says 2nd test vs. Sri Lanka is opportunity to halt New Zealand’s 5-test losing streak

By Krishan Francis

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — New Zealand captain Ross Taylor said the second and final test match against Sri Lanka starting Sunday is another opportunity to end an embarrassing losing streak in which his side has lost five straight tests this year.

Sri Lanka, which outclassed New Zealand by 10 wickets in the first match, has received a further boost with the return of Tillakaratne Dilshan who sat out the first test because of a back injury.

Taylor said his team was keen to turn around its fortunes for the sake of its fans and for the morale of the players.

The Kiwis started the year with a resounding win by an innings and 301 runs against low-ranked Zimbabwe but has since lost five straight test matches — one against South Africa and two each against the West Indies and India.

New Zealand must now win the second at P. Sara Oval to draw the series.

“We just want to put on a good performance for the public, the fans and for ourselves,” Taylor said Saturday.

“I know we haven’t played as we would have liked to over the past four or five months. Tomorrow is the start of another opportunity to change that and get a bit of a momentum, we are far from our best at the moment but we are working hard.”

New Zealand’s batsmen failed to capitalize on the gains provided by their bowlers in the first test at Galle as they lost nine second-innings wickets on the third day, resulting in the match ending before tea.

Sri Lanka’s spinner Rangana Herath collected 11 wickets for his second 10-wicket match haul.

Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayewardene said Dilshan has been declared fit after he missed the last two matches of a five-match one-day international series and the first test.

Dilshan had been nursing a disk-related problem but Jayawardene said he has passed the fitness test and made himself available for the match.

“We want Dilly to get back with things and get ready for Australia,” Jayawardene said of the side’s upcoming tour later this year.

Dimuth Karunaratne, who opened the batting in the first test and scored an unbeaten 60 in the second innings, has been left out.

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Squads:

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Angelo Mathews, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara, Shaminda Eranga, Dhammika Prasad, Tharindu Kaushal.

New Zealand: Ross Taylor (captain), Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Kruger van Wyk, Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner.

10:24ET 24-11-12