Angelo Mathews compiled a determined century to put Sri Lanka back into a competitive position in a closely fought match against New Zealand
Match Report:
ScorecardMathews century leaves NZ needing 257 for victory
New Zealand will go into the final day of the first Test against Sri Lanka needing 257 runs for victory with nine wickets in hand after a 14th century from Angelo Matthews dragged the tourists right back into the contest at Hagley Oval.
Matthews scored a defiant 115 and shared partnerships of 105 with Dinesh Chandimal (42) and 60 with Dhananjaya de Silva (47 not out) to help extend Sri Lanka's lead from 65 runs overnight to 284 when they were dismissed for 302.
Image Id: 33797CF353784481AC70BB29ED97AE6F Image Caption: Angelo Mathews celebrates his century // GettyA Daryl Mitchell century and stiff resistance from the tail rescued the first New Zealand innings, but they will need the top order to lay a decent platform if they are to take the lead in the two-match series.
They were 1-28 at stumps with Tom Latham unbeaten on 11 alongside Kane Williamson, who will resume on seven as the Black Caps go for a win that would end Sri Lanka's hopes of playing in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June.
New Zealand's highest previous successful fourth innings run chase also came in Christchurch in 1994, when they scored 5-324 to beat Pakistan by five wickets at the Lancaster Park ground destroyed in the 2011 earthquake.
Opener Devon Conway's departure for five, chipping the ball straight back to Kasun Rajitha, will not help them match that feat, but Latham and Williamson came through a few nervous moments to safely reach the close of play.
Mathews earlier showed admirable control throughout his 235-ball innings, punishing bad balls with 11 boundaries but largely happy to occupy the crease and build partnerships.
Prabath Jayasuriya added only four runs to his overnight tally before departing, caught behind, for six, but Chandimal stuck around until Tim Southee bowled him through the gate with the new ball after lunch.
That was the only wicket to fall in the second session but once Mathews edged a Matt Henry delivery behind, the Sri Lanka tail folded fairly quickly.
Sri Lanka will qualify for the WTC final if they can sweep New Zealand in this series and Australia can deny India victory in the fourth Test in Ahmedabad.