New Zealand declared immediately with the score reading 267 for three, giving Sri Lanka a target of 405 runs.
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Latham’s performance helped stretch the lead to 404, before Sri Lanka ended the day on 109-3, still 296 runs away from completing what looks to be an unlikely run chase.
New Zealand century-maker Tom Latham said the conditions meant it would not be easy to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings. Play was halted either side of lunch soon after Sri Lanka began their chase but the openers’ approach was not affected.
New Zealand held a 137 run first innings lead after they bowled Sri Lanka out for 294, though the tourists demonstrated their ability to occupy the crease as the hosts needed 117 overs to dismiss their inexperienced lineup.
Wicketkeeper BJ Watling took catches to account for all three wickets and take his match tally to nine – equaling the national record he set against India past year – before a hailstorm forced stumps to be taken early.
Mendis was closing on a first Test half-century when Southee struck with the first ball of a new spell, a nice outswinger edged behind to end the opener’s innings at 46.
New Zealand’s Tom Latham avoids a delivery from Australia’s Josh Hazlewood during the second day of the third cricket test match at the Adelaide Oval, in South Australia, November 28, 2015.
“I haven’t scored a huge amount of runs in the second innings and it was nice to do that in that sort of situation”.
Dimuth Karunaratne (29) was the primary batsman to fall when he tried to carry a brief ball from Southee over the slips to be caught by Watling, earlier than Wagner had Udara Jayasundera caught down the leg aspect by the wicketkeeper for 3.
Kane Williamson, who reached his half century with the second ball of the morning, was out for 71. Ross Taylor was also bowled, charging Herath, before McCullum arrived to speed his team towards a declaration as rain clouds gathered.
Latham offered two chances which were not taken and had a nerve-wracking wait on 99 when Sri Lanka challenged a rejected lbw appeal. It took his overall tally to 100, joining Adam Gilchrist as the most prolific boundary busters in Test history.
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Sri Lanka resumed at 198-4 on Saturday and suffered a body blow in their effort to substantially reduce New Zealand’s advantage when Dinesh Chandimal was out to the second ball of the day at his overnight score of 83.
