Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne forged a 147-run partnership to propel hosts SriLanka to a lead of 202 on day three of the first Test against New Zealand on Friday.

Prolific middle-order batter Kamindu Mendis struck a fine hundred to rescue Sri Lanka from a precarious position as the hosts reached 302-7 at stumps on Day 1 of the first test against New Zealand.

Follow live coverage of Sri Lanka vs New Zealand from the New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2024 today. The ICC Test Championship sees nine teams compete across a two-year cycle of matches before a two-team final decides the winner. The inaugural competition was won by New Zealand after a thrilling victory over India in June 2021.

Sri Lanka has rewarded Kamindu Mendis for his profitable tour of England by moving him up the batting order for the two-test series against New Zealand starting on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka recalled top-order batsman Oshada Fernando to their 16-member squad announced on Monday for their two-test series against New Zealand, while Nishan Madushka was left out. Fernando last playe

Rookie New Zealand fast bowler William O'Rourke took two wickets to rattle Sri Lanka's top order as the hosts reached 88 at lunch Wednesday on day one of the first Test. Sri Lanka last won a Test series against New Zealand in 2009.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first in the first Test against New Zealand in Galle. The hosts had confirmed their playing XI in the lead-up to the game, and made two changes from the side that last played in the final Test against England,