Date-stamped : 03 Nov93 - 05:17 December 5, 1992, Saturday OWENS BOOSTS KIWIS New Zealand fast-medium bowler Michael Owens today declared himself fit for the second Test against Sri Lanka starting in Colombo tomorrow. Owens, 23, lost two teeth and needed eight stitches after being struck in the face by the ball while warming up before yesterday's one-day international against Sri Lanka. December 6, 1992, Sunday MAHANAMA HITS SECOND SUCCESSIVE TEST CENTURY Roshan Mahanama struck his second consecutive test century as Sri Lanka reached 303 for six on the opening day of the second test against New Zealand on Sunday. Mahanama reached his hundred off just 128 balls, sharing a record opening partnership of 102 with Chandika Hathurusingha, but his side lost their way later in the day as New Zealand's bowlers staged a comeback. Sri Lanka lost three wickets for 22 runs off 42 deliveries in the afternoon and a further two wickets in the space of three overs with the second new ball in the final session. It was a completely different story when the enterprising Mahanama was at the crease. He reached 50 at the rate of a run a ball, hitting 14 fours in a stay of 217 minutes before falling to a catch at mid-wicket by Grant Bradburn off Michael Owens for 109. Sri Lanka's previous highest first-wicket stand against New Zealand was 95 by Charith Senanayake and Hathurusingha at Hamilton in 1990-91, but skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Hashan Tillekeratne were still forced to dig in during the afternoon. They put on 92 for the fifth wicket until the introduction of the second new ball in the 81st over at 268 for four brought New Zealand immediate results. Su'a tempted Ranatunga to chase a wide delivery outside his off stump, ending an innings of 76 which was the Sri Lankan skipper's 14th 50 in 38 tests. Owens, the other new ball bowler, then dismissed Gamini Wickremasinghe for two when he edged a catch to Ken Rutherford at first slip. Tillekeratne, who took nearly two hours to hit his first boundary, batted resolutely to be 43 not out at the close. Owens was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, finishing with three for 73. He was somewhat conspicuous on the field, sporting a long plaster across his right jaw following a mishap at practice two days ago which required five stitches. December 6, 1992 Sri Lanka were 303 for six in their first innings at the close of the first day of the second test against New Zealand on Sunday. December 7, 1992, Monday Century puts Sri Lanka in control ROSHAN MAHANAMA struck his second consecutive Test century as Sri Lanka reached 303 for 6 on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand in Colombo yesterday. Mahanama reached his hundred off just 128 balls, sharing a record opening partnership of 102 with Chandika Hathurusingha, but his side later lost their way. Sri Lanka forfeited three wickets for 22 runs off 42 deliveries in the afternoon and a further two wickets in three overs in the final session. Things were different when Mahanama was at the crease. He reached 50 at the rate of a run a ball, hitting 14 fours before falling for 109 to a catch at mid-wicket. Arjuna Ranatunga, the captain, and Hashan Tillekeratne dug in during the afternoon. They put on 92 until the introduction of the second new ball at 268 for 4 brought New Zealand immediate results. Murphy Su'a tempted Ranatunga to chase a wide delivery, ending an innings of 76 - his 14th half-century in 38 Tests. Then Michael Owens, the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, dismissed Gamini Wickremasinghe for two when he edged to slip. December 8, 1992 Crowe, Wright battle to save New Zealand Skipper Martin Crowe and opener John Wright were battling against the odds to save New Zealand here on Tuesday, after Sri Lanka forced the follow-on in their second Test. The duo made an unbroken 45-run stand on the third day, as New Zealand reached 75 for two at lunch in their second innings. In a dramatic return to form, Crowe blasted 39 off 35 balls, including a six and five fours. Wright was unbeaten on six. New Zealand, still needing 218 runs to avert an innings defeat, suffered two second innings setbacks when opener Blair Hartland (21) and vice-captain Andrew Jones (5) were dismissed in the space of seven runs. Hartland pulled medium pacer Asanka Gurusinha but was well held at mid wicket by Muttiah Muralitharan for 21 with three boundaries. Jones tried to turn first innings chief wrecker Jayananda Warnaweera, but was caught by the agile Hashan Tillekeratne at forward short-leg, where Tillekeratne had taken three fine catches in the first innings. Earlier, Sri Lanka had needed just 17 minutes to finish off New Zealand's first innings for 101, 293 short of Sri Lanka's first innings total of 394. Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga had no hesitation in forcing the follow-on after bowling out New Zealand for their lowest total against Sri Lanka. They made 174 in the Wellington Test in the 1990-91 series. Off-cutter Warnaweera had a career-best of 4 for 24, off-spinner Muralitharan had figures of 3 for 22 and fast bowler Dulip Liyanage finished with 2 for 9. December 8, 1992 Controversy as Crowe hits century Skipper Martin Crowe hit a controversial 107 as New Zealand fought back from the follow-on during the second Test against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday. Crowe was given out by head umpire Ignatius Anandappa while on 39, after Asanka Gurusinha took what seemed to be a low catch at silly point. But the New Zealand captain refused to leave the crease, and after consulting with leg-umpire T.M. Samarasinghe, Anandappa reversed his decision. Television replays showed Gurusinha taking the ball on the first bounce. Crowe, whose previous best on the current tour was 19 in the first Test, received fine support from opener John Wright (49) as the pair put together a 159-run third wicket stand before the New Zealand captain was dismissed. His 15th Test century guided New Zealand to 189 for three at tea. The 30-year-old hammered four sixes, two off the spin bowling of Muttiah Muralitharan, and 10 boundaries. But Muralitharan took his revenge before tea, when Crowe went for a big hit but miscued his stroke to offer a simple catch to Hashan Tillekeratne at forward short-leg. December 9, 1992 Sri Lanka set 70 to beat New Zealand Sri Lanka need just 70 runs to win their second Test against New Zealand after bowling out the tourists on Wednesday's fourth day for 361. New Zealand's second innings came to an end in the sixth over after lunch, when Hashan Tillekeratne caught Adam Parore at forward short-leg for 60 off the last ball from spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's 40th over. Tillekeratne's seventh catch of the match equalled a world record held jointly by Australian Greg Chappell and India's Yajuvindra Singh. Parore's defiant knock contained four boundaries, while Muralitharan finished with best figures of four for 134 for the innings and a Test haul of seven for 156. December 9, 1992 Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by nine wickets Sri Lanka romped to a nine wicket win over New Zealand, before tea on the fourth day of their second Test at the Singhalese Sports Club grounds here Wednesday. Set a victory target of 70, Sri Lanka made 70 for 1 after losing opener Roshan Mahanama for 29. But the other opener Chandika Hathurusinghe (23) and Asanka Gurusinghe (14) saw the side through to their first win in six years. It was Sri Lanka's first win over New Zealand in 11 Test matches between the two sides and only their third in 42 Tests. They had earlier beaten India in 1985 and Pakistan in 1986 with both matches being won in Colombo. December 9, 1992 Sri Lanka score historic win over New Zealand Sri Lanka raced to a historic nine-wicket victory over New Zealand on the fourth day of their second and final Test here on Wednesday. Sri Lanka reached the target of 70 runs in the 15th over with 52 of the runs coming off 13 boundaries. Opener Roshan Mahanama scored six of the boundaries in his breezy innings of 29. It was Sri Lanka's first win over New Zealand in 11 Tests and their third ever victory in 42 Tests, having previously only beaten India in 1985 and Pakistan in 1986 in Colombo. Sri Lanka also clinched the series 1-0 after the first Test was drawn. Despite Mahanama's exit with the score on 36, partner Chandika Hathurusinghe (23) and Asanka Gurusinghe (14) guided the side home with an unbroken stand of 34. Hundreds of spectators surged on to the field as Hathurusinghe hit the winning run off part-time bowler Andrew Jones, who led New Zealand in the absence of skipper Martin Crowe who was side-lined by a hamstring injury. Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, a member of Sri Lanka team during two previous Test wins, said he was feeling on "top of the world". But a dejected Crowe said: "I am disappointed. Sri Lanka played better than we did." Hashan Tillekeratne brought extra glory for Sri Lanka when he took the man-of-the-match award for equalling a world record seven catches in a match and for scoring 93 in the first innings. The record is jointly held by Australian Greg Chappell and Indian Yajuvindra Singh, both of them achieving the feat in Test matches against England. Earlier, wicket-keeper Adam Parore and the New Zealand tail put up some determined resistance, adding 84 runs to their overnight score of 277 before their second innings ended in the sixth over after lunch at 361. Parore hit a defiant 60 that included four boundaries and figured in two useful stands of 31 and 44 with seam bowlers Chris Pringle (23) and Michael Owens (eight). (Compiled from various sources, thanks to Vasa) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)