Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne cast a 147-run partnership to propel hosts Sri Lanka to a lead of 202 on day three of the primary Take a look at towards New Zealand on Friday. Sri Lanka had been 237-4 at stumps in Galle with Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva, each on 34, to renew within the morning.  Karunaratne (83) was on track, punishing unfastened deliveries and forcing New Zealand to unfold the sector to guard the boundaries. Chandimal (61) was extra conservative. “Whenever you play in Galle there’s a approach I play, and I again that model,” Karunaratne stated.  “Relatively than making an attempt to defend, the easiest way ahead is sweeps and reverse sweeps on that wicket,” he added.

“The fourth innings, 300 or 350 is a tricky goal. That is what we need to get to really feel protected.”

Ajaz Patel broke the impasse after tea with a ball that spun sharply from outdoors the tough, catching off-guard the left-handed Karunaratne when the ball snuck previous his tried sweep. 

Chandimal was despatched again within the subsequent over by rookie William O’Rourke, who tempted him right into a flick that went straight into the fingers of Tom Latham at leg gully. 

The 23-year-old O’Rourke had began sturdy by dismissing Pathum Nissanka in his second over when the batsman edged a bouncer to a diving Tim Southee at second slip.

His third wicket of the day got here courtesy of Kamindu Mendis, who made a century within the first innings however might solely handle 13 within the second. 

O’Rourke had already impressed for the Kiwis together with his second five-wicket haul from simply three Take a look at appearances throughout the first innings. 

New Zealand resumed on 255-4 however misplaced their remaining wickets rapidly regardless of a fightback from wicketkeeper Glenn Phillips, who made 49 off 50 balls. 

“It’s a superb Take a look at wicket. There may be lot of help for spinners, and seamers can come into play as nicely,” Phillips stated. 

“We might have appreciated a bit extra however a 30 or 40 run lead is at all times useful.”

It was the primary time the Kiwis had managed to put up a rating above 300 in Galle, the place they’ve misplaced all 4 of their earlier Take a look at encounters.

Sri Lanka drew first blood within the morning when Tom Blundell was given out caught after a assessment, ending a stable 73-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Daryl Mitchell. 

Mitchell went on to put up the third half-century of the innings for New Zealand after staring down the spinners.

He was ultimately run out on 57 when he responded to a dangerous name by Phillips, who miscalculated a single following a gentle push to the covers. 

The second new ball turned the tables for Sri Lanka, with Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya capable of finding bounce.

Jayasuriya took 4 wickets, together with that of top-scoring opener Latham for 70, whereas Ramesh bagged three.

Saturday will see a relaxation day between the edges as Sri Lanka holds a presidential election, with play to renew on Sunday.

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