Williamson gives NZ hope

PATIENT: Kane Williamson reached 80 not out at stumps on the third day of the test against Sri Lanka in Wellington. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

NEW ZEALAND are fighting hard to stay in the second test after day three at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

They will start today at 253-5, holding a 118-run lead over Sri Lanka and with Kane Williamson on 80 and BJ Watling on 48.

By stumps yesterday their sixth wicket stand was worth a precious 93 for New Zealand, who hold a 1-0 lead and are desperate to protect that on the eve of the cricket World Cup.

Different format, but there's a belief that going in on the back of a positive series result won't hurt morale for the tournament they will jointly host with Australia.

It was a different story as Sri Lanka removed captain Brendon McCullum and Jimmy Neesham in the middle session to have New Zealand reeling at 159-5, or effectively 24-5.

Both went lbw to Sri Lankan seamers. McCullum was given lbw to Dhammika Prasad and reviewed it without success.

Neesham's came the other way. He was given not out on 19 but Sri Lanka sought a second opinion, which went in their favour.

By stumps, Williamson had grafted just over five hours and faced 200 balls. He was within 20 runs of a ninth test century, which would put him equal with former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming.

Sri Lanka's bowlers persevered in good batting conditions and the match would have been more firmly in their grasp had their most successful, Nuwan Pradeep, not spilled Watling, after three juggles at fine leg, on 23 off an unimpressed Prasad.

- NZME.