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.

Test series. The first Test started on September 18 while the second match will start on September 26 in Galle.

A thrilling day of Test cricket unfolded in Galle on Friday, as both New Zealand and Sri Lanka battled fiercely for dominance. By the end of day three, the hosts reached 237 for four, boasting a lead of 202 runs with six wickets in hand on a rapidly deteriorating pitch.

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.

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*.