Cricket: At last, something to cheer about

James Franklin takes off with the dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara for 45 at the Basin Reserve. Picture / Reuters

Memories of a gruelling summer were temporarily put aside last night as New Zealand ended their 2004-05 campaign with a morale-boosting innings win over Sri Lanka.

An otherwise forgettable season was given some much-needed relief when New Zealand finished off the Sri Lankans for 273 in their second innings at Wellington, in the process winning the match by an innings and 38 runs and the series 1-0.

Initially thwarted by Kumar Sangakkara and nightwatchman Farveez Maharoof, and later by Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chaminda Vaas, New Zealand eventually cleared up the last vestiges of resistance just before 5pm, with a day to spare.

New Zealand pacemen James Franklin helped atone for some loose work in the first innings with a four-wicket bag, Nathan Astle claimed his second career-best figures in consecutive innings, and Kyle Mills chipped in with a useful brace.

It was New Zealand's 57th test victory, their 12th at the Basin Reserve, and their first by an innings or more since the third test against Pakistan in 2000-01.

Skipper Stephen Fleming, who claimed his 23rd test scalp in his 70th outing as captain, said afterwards there were more than a few parallels with the way his side performed four years ago against South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

"We've been taken to the depths and have come back and played well, as we did four years ago," he said.

"We always targeted this [Sri Lanka] series as one to get a bit of perspective back, a gauge and a measure that would hopefully show that we were not a bad side.

"And I think we demonstrated that. We're not in the top two or three, but we're certainly not a bad side and we showed that by winning this series well."

Fuelled by Lou Vincent's man-of-the-match double-century, and a six-wicket bag from Chris Martin on the first day, New Zealand worked patiently through the Sri Lankan line-up yesterday, with Astle again proving the surprise package.

Having already taken a career-best haul in the first innings, he yesterday sent back Thilan Samaraweera, Dilshan and Vaas to end with even better figures of three for 27, and a bag of six for the match.

His triumph over Dilshan was a key moment in the afternoon, as the aggressive little right-hander had already made his way to 73 off 103 balls and was threatening to force the New Zealanders to come back today.

Fleming said he was delighted with the improved performance of Franklin and Mills at the bowling crease, and the overall gains made during a season in which several new players were brought into action.

"When you think of the Marshalls, the re-emergence of Lou Vincent, James Franklin and Chris Martin, and imminent return of the likes of Oram, Tuffey, Bond and Styris, there's going to be some real competition," he said.

"We know that when you introduce new players and treat them right, you can get some real good development and I think we'll get some of that in this case.

"When you get more players in the pool you're going to be a more competitive side overall."

Fleming agreed that the win over Sri Lanka would not hide the deficiencies exposed during the five test matches against Australia, but said that the mood and the morale of the players would be considerably improved by the result.

"I guess the guys will winter a lot better," he said, "just knowing that there's a light at the end of the tunnel."

* Scoreboard

Sri Lanka

First innings 211

Second innings

S. Jayasuriya c Vincent b Martin 2
M. Atapattu c Fleming b Franklin 16
F. Maharoof c Astle b Mills 36
K. Sangakkara b Franklin 45
M. Jayawardene c McCullum b Franklin 13
T. Samaraweera c Fleming b Astle 17
T. Dilshan b Astle 73
S. Kalavithigoda c McCullum b Mills 1
C. Vaas b Franklin 38
U. Chandana b Astle 8
L. Malinga not out 0
Extras (4b, 10lb, 8nb, 2w) 24
--Total (92.4 overs) 273
Fall: 1/6 (Jayasuriya), 2/47 (Atapattu), 3/95 (Maharoof), 4/117 (Jayawardene), 5/137 (Sangakkara), 6/164 (Samaraweera), 7/177 (Kalavithigoda), 8/255 (Dilshan), 9/267 (Chandana).

Bowling: C. Martin 18-4-50-1 (2nb), K. Mills 11-4-34-2 (1nb), L. Vincent 1-0-2-0, N. Astle 12-4-27-3, P. Wiseman 26-7-75-0 (2w), J. Franklin 23.4-4-71-4 (5nb).

New Zealand

First innings 522-9 dec