Sri Lanka 294 (Karunaratne 84, Chandimal 83) and 109 for 3 (Mendis 46, Chandimal 31*) need 296 runs to beat New Zealand 431 (Guptill 156, Williamson 88, McCullum 75, Pradeep 4-112) and 267 for 3 dec (Latham 109*, Williamson 71)
New Zealand have taken a stride forward towards victory in the first Test despite significant resistance from Sri Lankan batsmen and bad whether day. Rain stopped the game three times and at stumps Sri Lanka were 109 for 3 , which means they need 296 runs more for victory and New Zealand needed seven wickets more which is more likely to happen. 
New Zealand declared their second inning on 267 for 3 half an hour before lunch on day 4. So, logically New Zealand had 405 runs to defend with little more than five sessions left in the game to dismiss Sri Lanka. Hosts started the day in aggressive manner and scored 96 runs in 17.4 overs. Tom Latham scored his third Test hundred and Brendon McCullum equalled Adam Gilchrist for maximum number of sixes in Test cricket. When Sri Lanka came out to bat in their second inning, rain halted the game. Their batsmen were more determined this time than first inning. Kusal Mendis got a reprieve when Martin Guptill dropped a sitter in the first slip. Karunaratne played a useless shot to be dismissed caught behind off Southee. Udara Jayasundera ended a poor debut by fending a short ball off his ribs to Watling. At one time, Sri Lanka were 54 for no loss and then they found themselves struggling on 64 for 2. Dinesh Chandimal came in at no. 4 and played his shots without too much pressure. Though, he was little lucky when couple of edges went over the slip cordon. Kusal Mendis played some graceful shots but he couldn’t reach his half century. Mendis edged an out swinger from Tim Southee to be caught by BJ Watling. This was Watling’s ninth catch of the match. The rain started then and brought an early end to the day.
Earlier in the day, Kane Williamson brought his half century off the second ball of the day. Williamson added 141 runs with Tom Latham for the second wicket. A delivery from Dushmantha Chameera, nipped back in and his Williamson on his pad and bowled him. Ross Taylor hit few boundaries and was bowled by Herath in trying to hit him over midwicket. McCullum hit couple of sixes to equal Gilchrist for most sixes in Test cricket and declared after that immediately. Sri Lanka 294 (Karunaratne 84, Chandimal 83) and 109 for 3 (Mendis 46, Chandimal 31*) need 296 runs to beat New Zealand 431 (Guptill 156, Williamson 88, McCullum 75, Pradeep 4-112) and 267 for 3 dec (Latham 109*, Williamson 71)
New Zealand have taken a stride forward towards victory in the first Test despite significant resistance from Sri Lankan batsmen and bad whether day. Rain stopped the game three times and at stumps Sri Lanka were 109 for 3 , which means they need 296 runs more for victory and New Zealand needed seven wickets more which is more likely to happen.
New Zealand declared their second inning on 267 for 3 half an hour before lunch on day 4. So, logically New Zealand had 405 runs to defend with little more than five sessions left in the game to dismiss Sri Lanka. Hosts started the day in aggressive manner and scored 96 runs in 17.4 overs. Tom Latham scored his third Test hundred and Brendon McCullum equalled Adam Gilchrist for maximum number of sixes in Test cricket. When Sri Lanka came out to bat in their second inning, rain halted the game. Their batsmen were more determined this time than first inning. Kusal Mendis got a reprieve when Martin Guptill dropped a sitter in the first slip. Karunaratne played a useless shot to be dismissed caught behind off Southee. Udara Jayasundera ended a poor debut by fending a short ball off his ribs to Watling. At one time, Sri Lanka were 54 for no loss and then they found themselves struggling on 64 for 2. Dinesh Chandimal came in at no. 4 and played his shots without too much pressure. Though, he was little lucky when couple of edges went over the slip cordon. Kusal Mendis played some graceful shots but he couldn’t reach his half century. Mendis edged an out swinger from Tim Southee to be caught by BJ Watling. This was Watling’s ninth catch of the match. The rain started then and brought an early end to the day.
Earlier in the day, Kane Williamson brought his half century off the second ball of the day. Williamson added 141 runs with Tom Latham for the second wicket. A delivery from Dushmantha Chameera, nipped back in and his Williamson on his pad and bowled him. Ross Taylor hit few boundaries and was bowled by Herath in trying to hit him over midwicket. McCullum hit couple of sixes to equal Gilchrist for most sixes in Test cricket and declared after that immediately.
