New Zealand are teetering on the brink of their heaviest defeat in Tests after being forced to follow on in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Following a devastating morning session in Galle where Sri Lanka claimed eight wickets, the tourists were asked to follow on, trailing by a staggering 514 runs.
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Things only worsened for the Blackcaps, who lost opener Tom Latham before lunch in the second innings.
New Zealand still need an improbable 511 runs on a turning Galle pitch just to avoid an innings defeat.
New Zealand's worst-ever defeat was by an innings and 324 runs against Pakistan in 2002 and it would appear a record under threat here given the little resistance New Zealand's batters have offered against Sri Lanka's masterful spin attack.
Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya dominated the first innings, taking six wickets for 42 runs, while debutant off-spinner Nishan Peiris was an impressive supporting act, claiming three scalps before dismissing Latham in the second innings.
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Jayasuriya is now on the cusp of history, needing just six more wickets to equal the record for the fastest to 100 Test wickets, a record held by England's George Lohmann since 1896.
The tourists, having already lost the first test by 63 runs, now find themselves on the verge of a humiliating series defeat. For Sri Lanka, a series win would mark their first triumph over New Zealand since 2009.
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