Sri Lanka Fight Back After Early Scare Against New Zealand

Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne spearheaded a gritty Sri Lanka fight-back on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin on Friday. (Scorecard)

They came together with the tourists looking fragile at 29 for two, and put on 122 for the third wicket in reply to New Zealand's first innings 431.

At stumps, Sri Lanka were 197 for four with Chandimal on 83 and Kithuruwan Vithanage on 10.

Karunaratne was out for 84 after providing stubborn resistance with Chandimal, which was desperately needed after Sri Lanka failed to make the most of the conditions when they won the toss and sent New Zealand into bat.

With six wickets in hand, Karunaratne believed Sri Lanka were in a position to save the Test from what had been a very tough situation.

"We're slightly in a good position," he said, adding patience would be key. "The wicket is a bit slower than we expected and it's not turning much.

"It's two-paced and we have to wait for the loose ball and get runs."

But New Zealand quick Trent Boult thought there was still enough in the wicket to keep the advantage with the home side.

"It's going to be a big push in the morning. If we can get one early, the cliche of one brings two and we'll be into the tail," he said.

Boult saw signs of reverse swing developing "and that's going to become a big factor with four seamers that can all exploit that".

After the New Zealand innings wrapped up early on Friday, the outlook for Sri Lanka darkened when Test novices Kusal Mendis and Udara Jayasundera fell cheaply, both caught behind by BJ Watling.

But Karunaratne and Chandimal stepped up, curtailing their attacking instincts.

They delicately negotiated their way to bring up the 100 in the 45th over just before tea.

The middle session produced only 65 runs, but while the New Zealand bowlers sent down a series of dot balls they seldom looked threatening.

As the pitch flattened in the final session, Sri Lanka upped the tempo and cracked 48 in 13 overs before left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner made the breakthrough.

Karunaratne, a century-maker against New Zealand a year ago, had played patiently for 198 balls before he slashed at a drifting delivery and gave Watling his third catch.