Cricket: NZ seek salvation from above

GALLE - New Zealand's prospects of thwarting Sri Lanka's quest for victory in the first cricket test hinges on deteriorating weather and an illness-ravaged team's improving health during tomorrow's final day at Galle International Stadium.

Set a mythical 413 for victory, New Zealand limped to stumps on the penultimate day on 30 for one, a pallid predicament to match the medical status of the majority of the team.

Martin Guptill was not out on 17 alongside Ross Taylor, who cribbed eight from 31 balls.

New Zealand now face surviving three sessions to deny Sri Lanka a series lead -- and will be relying on forecast showers to eventuate.

A rearranged batting order negotiated a tricky hour before bad light ending proceedings 13 overs early -- though not before makeshift opener Daniel Flynn was brilliantly caught by Mahela Jayawardene at second slip in Nuwan Kulasakera's first over.

Once Sri Lanka declared a blistering second innings closed at 259 for four at the tea interval, New Zealand had to mount their rearguard action without opener, and first innings top scorer, Tim McIntosh.

He was among the worst affected of the New Zealand players that actually made it to the ground after a food poisoning epidemic swept through the ranks overnight.

Flynn inherited the thankless task of facing the new ball and shuffled off three balls later for a duck.

While New Zealand plodded towards stumps Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum were in isolation at the team hotel, their prospects of participation tomorrow in the balance.

New Zealand's second innings was delayed by an hour-long rain delay and the tourists will surely welcome more of the same tomorrow to frustrate a Sri Lankan side dominant since the opening morning.

Tillakaratne Dilshan emphasised the hosts superiority by stroking a classy unbeaten 123 to erase the disappointment of his first innings' 92.

Dilshan again collared the tourists' bowling as the home team chased quick runs after ending New Zealand's first innings on 299, 11 overs into the morning session.

His rollicking near-century on Tuesday set the platform for Sri Lanka's position of strength but he was not as savage today as he completed a relatively sedate century by his standards.

Dilshan's final 50 runs took 80 deliveries as Daniel Vettori finally latched on a leg stump line, a defensive ploy to temporarily curb the onslaught.

But Dilshan, who reached his half-century from 35 balls, still cracked nine fours and a six in his ninth test century as Sri Lanka plundered at will.

Dilshan's mid-innings lull was immaterial as Sri Lanka maintained a one-day international style run rate of 5.28.

There were few positives for New Zealand during another glum day though reserve wicketkeeper Reece Young could at least reflect on a surprise test cricket cameo when called in for McCullum.

Kumar Sangakkara graciously allowed Young to deputise but that was the extent of Sri Lanka's generosity as the home side's batsmen put New Zealand's first innings in context.

Opener Tharanga Paranavitana was the only batsman not to make a meaningful contribution when he edged Iain O'Brien to Taylor at slip for five.

Sangakkara then compiled a smooth 46 from 65 balls before Dilshan's drive down the pitch deflected off Vettori's palm on to the stumps to leave the Sri Lankan skipper stranded at the non-striker's end.

Jeetan Patel secured his first breakthrough of an expensive spell when Jayawardene offered the spinner a smart return catch but he was left to mull over a match analysis of one for 189 from 36 overs.

Vettori was also tonked, taking one for 81 from 19 overs although his removal of Thilan Samaraweera left him just three short of 300 test wickets.

Earlier, New Zealand had resumed on 281 for eight in reply to Sri Lanka's 452 and lost O'Brien for nine and finally Vettori, who moved from 33 to 42 while trying to protect the tail.

O'Brien had the dubious honour of becoming Muttiah Muralitharan's 100th wicket at Sri Lanka's southernmost test location when he tickled an edge to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Muralitharan ended with four for 73 from 42 overs while Thilan Thushara had deserved figures of four for 81.

- NZPA