Former captains Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal have combined for 147 to earn Sri Lanka a 202-run lead against New Zealand after three days of the first test in Galle.

A rest day was declared on Saturday () - Day 4 of the ongoing first Test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle. A rest day has been declared due to the presidential election in Sri Lanka.

Follow live coverage of Sri Lanka vs New Zealand from the New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2024 today. The ICC Test Championship sees nine teams compete across a two-year cycle of matches before a two-team final decides the winner. The inaugural competition was won by New Zealand after a thrilling victory over India in June 2021.

Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara is Sri Lanka’s leading test run-scorer and leading century-maker. In 134 tests, the left-hander amassed 12400 at an outstanding average of 57, with the help of 38 centuries and 52 fifties. Sangakkara is his country’s leading ODI run-scorer as well.

Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne forged a 147-run partnership to propel hosts Sri Lanka to a lead of 202 on day three of the first Test against New Zealand on Friday.

Sri Lanka recalled top-order batsman Oshada Fernando to their 16-member squad announced on Monday for their two-test series against New Zealand, while Nishan Madushka was left out.

One of Sri Lanka’s most reliable batsmen of the past 15 years is Angelo Mathews, who is his nation’s third-highest test run-scorer with 7766 runs. Mathews has played in 112 test matches so far, in which he averages an impressive 45 with 16 centuries. The right-hander has a highest test score of 200*.

Sri Lanka's record of four wins in four tests against New Zealand in Galle was in mild jeopardy Friday when the Kiwis took a 35-run lead after the first innings of the first test. In reply at lunch Friday,