Sri Lanka have ended the opening day being in a position of strength. New Zealand got the big wicket of Kamindu Mendis just before the stumps but Sri Lanka with three wickets still in hand and 302 runs on board are in the driver's seat.
New Zealand have gotten the wicket they were after. A short of a length delivery from Ajaz Patel, that rips off the rough area and the ball kisses Mendis' gloves, balloons up and simple catch for the slip fielder. A bit late for New Zealand but not that late.
Glenn Phillips has gotten his second wicket as Kusal Mendis departs immediately after scoring a fifty. Mendis smashed a shorter delivery from Phillips straight into short-leg fielder Tom Latham's pads which ballooned up and Tim Southee at short mid-wicket dived to his right to complete a terrific catch.
Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis have brought up a 100-run partnership as Sri Lanka are slowly moving towards the position of strength.
Kamindu Mendis has broken Michael Vandort's record for Sri Lankan batter to reach fastest to 4 Tests hundreds in just 11 innings, thus equalling Don Bradman's record, no less.
Sri Lanka despite losing Angelo Mathews at the stroke of tea, have been able to get partnerships stitched which have taken the innings forward. Kamindu Mendis is closing towards his century and Kusal Mendis at his new number has started well as Sri Lanka have crossed the 200 mark. Can Mendis smash another century?
Meanwhile, the covers have been brought on in Galle with the clouds getting darker.
The 72-run partnership for Sri Lanka has finally been broken by New Zealand's best bowler on the day, William O'Rourke. O'Rourke with his pace is getting that extra zip from the surface and has been able to trouble the Sri Lankans and gets Angelo Mathews poking at a delivery outside the off-stump straight to the keeper. Sri Lanka 178/5 at tea.
Kamindu Mendis has now a 50-plus score in six consecutive Test matches as the all-rounder continues his merry run in the longest format. Mendis has kept Sri Lanka afloat after losing a couple of wickets immediately after lunch.
The golden arm of Glenn Phillips has struck for New Zealand and Sri Lanka find themselves in a bit of trouble. The ball is turning square and Phillips got the ball to pitch and turn square disturbing Dhananjaya de Silva's off stump. Sri Lanka are four down now at 108/4 and in trouble.
Sri Lanka Cricket has given an update on Angelo Mathews that there was a mild swelling but no fracture and he will come to bat again. A good news for the hosts!
Dinesh Chandimal, who batted well for his 30 off 71 deliveries, looked good after Sri Lanka had lost a couple of wickets but now immediately after lunch, he has handed a simple catch to substitute Michael Bracewell and captain Tim Southee has struck. Sri Lanka now three down.
Dinesh Chandimal has been solid for Sri Lanka at a new batting position, at No 3 and New Zealand have to be bit proactive as the spinners despite creating a couple of chances have been kept at bay. Sri Lanka are 88/2 at lunch but have lost Angelo Mathews to a finger injury and will hope that he is fit.
Angelo Mathews, seemed like has done something to his finger and has walked off the field. Mathews had just gotten his eyes in but will now have to walk off and Sri Lanka will hope that it isn't serious given it is the first day of the series. The star in England, Kamindu Mendis has walked in at No. 5, the promotion everyone was talking about has finally happened.
Ajaz Patel has just started to trouble the Sri Lankan batters with the turn and bounce he is getting. Patel got a couple of balls to bounce and turn and surprise the batter a bit in his fifth over with Chandimal and Angelo Mathews both set with both openers gone.
Pathum Nissanka is OUT and he is castled by Willaim O-Rourke. Sri Lanka are rocked early and they are in trouble at 33/2.
William O'Rourke strikes for New Zealand. Sri Lanka have lost their veteran Dimuth Karunaratne for 2 runs. They are now now 20/1.
Sri Lanka scored 7 runs off the first over but William O'Rourke extracted bounce and swing off the surface to trouble the batters. Can Nissanka and Karunaratne hang around for the first hour?
The conditions look fantastic, the pitch looks good, there's plenty of grass on the surface which is covered by some brown grass. That means there will be movement with the new ball for the first 30-45 minutes. It's still a bta first pitch as always at this venue, get 400-450 and bring the spinners into play
New Zealand playing XI: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee(c), Ajaz Patel, William O'Rourke
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando
Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva won the toss and opted to bat first without any hesitation. The sun is shining and it is a fresh pitch in Galle and the hosts would be keen to get a big first-innings score.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka have locked horns on 38 previous occasions in Test cricket and the Black Caps have won 18 of them. However, in Sri Lanka, the hosts lead 7-5 to New Zealand and that is what the visitors have to focus on
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After a damp squib of five days in Greater Noida with no play against Afghanistan due to rain and a wet outfield, New Zealand will be eager to get on the field and perform. It is the start of a long Test season in Asia with two games in Sri Lanka and three in India. Having not won a single series away from home in WTC history, the Black Caps will be keen to change the record.
Sri Lanka didn't win the series but they had their moments in England and ended the three-match assignment with a win at the Oval. Sri Lanka found a few new heroes while some of the experienced one took the responsibility and the Dhananjaya de Silva-led side would want to take the momentum into the two-match series at home.
Sri Lanka against New Zealand, a fixture which the Kiwis won last year at home as part of the previous World Test Championship cycle but in the sub-continent, the hosts will be the favourites, especially since they are coming off winning a Test in England. But nevertheless, it should be a cracker. Welcome to our live coverage of the first SL vs NZ Test from Galle-
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