Sri Lanka set NZ mammoth target

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Chamara Silva made an unbeaten 152 as Sri Lanka set New Zealand a huge target of 504 to win on a rain-hit third day of the second Test in Wellington.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 365 in their second innings, with the hosts 75-2 in reply at the close of play.

Silva's innings, his first century in Tests, featured 20 fours.

And he ran out of partners as spinner Daniel Vettori finished off the Sri Lanka second innings with three wickets in four balls for figures of 7-130.

Vettori has now claimed 228 Test wickets, moving him past Chris Cairns into second place on the Black Caps' all-time list of wicket-takers.

The start of play at the Basin Reserve was delayed for 40 minutes because of rain and there were further breaks during the day, which meant only 60 overs of play was possible.

But Sri Lanka improved their position with the wickets of Craig Cumming and Jamie How before the close to put them in an excellent position to square the series, having lost the opening match in Christchurch.

Pace bowler Lasith Malinga ended a first-wicket stand of 56 with a swinging delivery to trap How lbw for 33, and Cumming followed in the next over for 20 when he failed to read Muttiah Muralitharan's doosra and edged a catch to Kumar Sangakkara.

But New Zealand survived the seven overs remaining without further loss as Mathew Sinclair ended the day on 10 not out, with skipper Stephen Fleming on six.

Sri Lanka resumed on 225-5 earlier in the day and only lost one wicket before lunch as Prasanna Jayawardene fell to seam bowler Chris Martin for 37 when he pulled a catch to square leg.

But Silva reached his century off 145 balls and received excellent support from Chaminda Vaas as they added 94 for the sixth wicket before Vaas was caught behind off Vettori for 47 as he tried to bring up his half century with a boundary.

The end of the innings was not long in coming as Farveez Maharoof and Malinga were both leg-before to Vettori, who finished the innings off by having Muralitharan stumped for a duck.