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Tea Sri Lanka 227 and 168 for 7 (Mathews 63*, Kulasekara 18*) need a further 195 runs to beat New Zealand 412 and 194 for 9 dec
Angelo Mathews was solid in defense © Associated Press
Angelo Mathews kept New Zealand at bay as he batted through another session, supported by the lower order to give Sri Lanka the chance of saving the Test with one session left. With the other specialist batsmen back in the pavilion early this morning, Sri Lanka's hopes of a draw rested on Mathews and in the process he progressed to a watchful half-century. New Zealand picked up two wickets between lunch and tea, and their hopes of nipping out the final three will rest on the new ball. They will also hope the light doesn't deteriorate quickly.
The afternoon session was dominated by spin, with a spinner operating from one end for the entire duration. Tim Southee bowled round the wicket with a packed on side field, with a short leg, backward short leg and short square leg to create some opportunities. Doug Bracewell, for a short period, bowled short of a length to Mathews with the wicketkeeper up to the stumps.
The breakthrough after lunch came via Todd Astle, who was persisted with for his drift. The one that got Prasanna Jayawardene was one that drifted away and bounced more, clipping the shoulder of the bat and went to the keeper. The Jayawardene-Mathews stand frustrated New Zealand for 35.3 overs. Suraj Randiv lasted only 11 deliveries, when he edged Trent Boult to second slip.
Kulasekara joined Mathews to add an unbeaten 46. Astle bowled loopy full tosses, that were clubbed over deep midwicket by Kulasekara and Mathews too used his feet to Jeetan Patel and smashed a six over long-on.
Mathews' survival skills were put to test after Thilan Samaraweera's early departure. Sri Lanka were watchful at the start, playing out four consecutive maidens to the seamers. Perhaps it was the pressure created by the number of dot balls that made Samaraweera push for a tight single. Dropping it towards short cover, he set off and was three-fourths down the pitch but Mathews wasn't interested. Patel threw the ball to the wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk, who broke the stumps before a deflated Samaraweera could make his ground.
Astle managed sharp turn off the rough outside the off stump, but wasn't consistent enough, easing the pressure off the batsmen by dishing out a full toss and a couple of half trackers that were put away for boundaries by both Mathews and Jayawardene. Taylor kept faith in Astle to produce the breakthrough, placing fielders around the batsman but Kulasekara managed to defend till tea.
Angelo Mathews was solid in defense © Associated Press
Angelo Mathews kept New Zealand at bay as he batted through another session, supported by the lower order to give Sri Lanka the chance of saving the Test with one session left. With the other specialist batsmen back in the pavilion early this morning, Sri Lanka's hopes of a draw rested on Mathews and in the process he progressed to a watchful half-century. New Zealand picked up two wickets between lunch and tea, and their hopes of nipping out the final three will rest on the new ball. They will also hope the light doesn't deteriorate quickly.
The afternoon session was dominated by spin, with a spinner operating from one end for the entire duration. Tim Southee bowled round the wicket with a packed on side field, with a short leg, backward short leg and short square leg to create some opportunities. Doug Bracewell, for a short period, bowled short of a length to Mathews with the wicketkeeper up to the stumps.
The breakthrough after lunch came via Todd Astle, who was persisted with for his drift. The one that got Prasanna Jayawardene was one that drifted away and bounced more, clipping the shoulder of the bat and went to the keeper. The Jayawardene-Mathews stand frustrated New Zealand for 35.3 overs. Suraj Randiv lasted only 11 deliveries, when he edged Trent Boult to second slip.
Kulasekara joined Mathews to add an unbeaten 46. Astle bowled loopy full tosses, that were clubbed over deep midwicket by Kulasekara and Mathews too used his feet to Jeetan Patel and smashed a six over long-on.
Mathews' survival skills were put to test after Thilan Samaraweera's early departure. Sri Lanka were watchful at the start, playing out four consecutive maidens to the seamers. Perhaps it was the pressure created by the number of dot balls that made Samaraweera push for a tight single. Dropping it towards short cover, he set off and was three-fourths down the pitch but Mathews wasn't interested. Patel threw the ball to the wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk, who broke the stumps before a deflated Samaraweera could make his ground.
Astle managed sharp turn off the rough outside the off stump, but wasn't consistent enough, easing the pressure off the batsmen by dishing out a full toss and a couple of half trackers that were put away for boundaries by both Mathews and Jayawardene. Taylor kept faith in Astle to produce the breakthrough, placing fielders around the batsman but Kulasekara managed to defend till tea.