Kiwis level Lanka series with win

New Zealand registered their first Test win in Sri Lanka for 14 years on Thursday, finally removing the defiant Angelo Mathews to level the series 1-1 in Colombo. The Kiwis bowled Sri Lanka out for a second innings total of 195 in the last session of the fifth and final day at the P Sara Oval to win the second and final Test by 167 runs. All-rounder Mathews offered dogged resistance, top-scoring with a fighting 84 that included one six and 11 fours before he was the last man dismissed after facing 228 balls. New Zealand, who had lost five successive Tests before the match, put in an improved all-round show in Colombo, posting 412 in the first innings and their bowlers, especially the pacemen, delivered in both innings. “It is always good to come overseas and win. The bowlers were brilliant and they set it up,” said New Zealand captain Ross Taylor, who was named man of the match for his 142 in the first innings. “I guess we got a lot of stick last week for our performances, but we stuck to our task and fought hard. We took our catches and fielded pretty well.”