Former captains Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal combined for 147 to earn Sri Lanka a 202-run lead against New Zealand after three days of the first Test on Sept. 20.
Karunaratne made 83 and Chandimal contributed 61 as Sri Lanka reached 237/4 in their second innings. The partnership began in the third over after Pathum Nissanka was dismissed.
“It was a good partnership with Chandimal. We have played lot of cricket together and we understand each other’s game,” Karunaratne said.
New Zealand’s pacer William O’Rourke was the most effective bowler. After taking a five for in the first innings, he grabbed three more wickets.
Karunaratne was taken out by Ajaz Patel after his 39th 50. Chandimal, following his third 50 this month, went in the next over, caught at leg slip off O’Rourke.
O’Rourke then got first innings centurion Kamindu Mendis to edge to slip on 13.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews, with 34 each in an unbroken 59-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Mathews survived an appeal in the day’s last over after he was hit on the back leg by Glenn Phillips, umpire Michael Gough gave not out. Replays showed the ball would have hit leg stump but it was umpire’s call.
New Zealand were batting at the start of the day, continuing on 255/4 they were all out for 340, leading by 35.
Daryl Mitchell posted a half-century with Tom Latham and Kane Williamson reaching 57, but was run out.
Phillips lashed an unbeaten 49 off 48 balls which included two fours and five sixes, but missed out on his fifty when Ramesh Mendis cleaned up last man O’Rourke.
“We had the momentum in the morning and then that run out gave Sri Lanka a chance to get back into the game,” Phillips said.
“I thought there was a run. My partner trusted my call. I take responsibility and hopefully my options will be better next time.”
Prabath Jayasuriya was the standout bowler, finishing with four wickets, while Ramesh Mendis and De Silva shared five wickets.
