Galle, Sep 20 (UNI) Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal led Sri Lanka to a commanding position in the first Test against New Zealand, putting on an unbroken 128-run partnership on day three in Galle.
Karunaratne remained unbeaten on 72, while Chandimal contributed 54 as Sri Lanka reached 134 for 1 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 99 runs. The duo batted through the entire post-lunch session without losing a wicket, frustrating New Zealand's bowlers in hot and humid conditions.
New Zealand's attack, which had shown promise earlier in the day, struggled in the afternoon. Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel and part-timer Glenn Phillips failed to apply sustained pressure, while Mitchell Santner bowled uncharacteristically loose deliveries.