GALLE, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan shared six wickets to leave New Zealand struggling on 281 for eight on the third day of the first test yesterday.
Captain Daniel Vettori was unbeaten on 33 and Iain O’Brien three not out when bad light stopped play for the day, with the Kiwis trailing by 171 runs.
Thushara claimed three for 80 in 22 overs while Muralitharan picked up three for 66 from 37 miserly overs on his return to test cricket after a knee injury forced him out of the recent Pakistan series.
Opener Tim McIntosh provided stubborn resistance with a gritty 69 from 226 balls, an innings that included six fours and a six, before being trapped lbw by Muralitharan.
The Kiwis, who started the day on 87 for two chasing Sri Lanka’s total of 452, frustrated the home attack in the morning as McIntosh added 49 in 18 overs with nightwatchman Jeetan Patel.
Muralitharan broke the partnership before lunch, trapping Patel lbw for 26.
The start of play was delayed for 90 minutes after early storms drenched the seaside venue.