SL vs NZ: William O'Rourke shines again, but Sri Lanka edge ahead in 1st Test

SL vs NZ: Dimuth Karunaratne's 83 has helped Sri Lanka take a lead of 202 runs at Stumps on Day 3 of the opening Test against New Zealand in Galle.

In Short

• Sri Lanka led by 202 runs in the first innings
• Dimuth Karunaratne scored 83 runs off 127 balls
• William O'Rourke picked up 3 wickets on Day 3

Sri Lanka would consider themselves ahead in the opening Test against New Zealand in Galle after taking a lead of 202 runs in their second innings with six wickets in hand. The Kiwis, on the other hand, will be looking up to William O'Rourke, who has picked up three wickets in the second innings after his five-wicket haul in the first.

The pacer got the wicket of Pathum Nissanka, after which he dismissed Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis in quick succession. From Sri Lanka at 178 for four, Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva staved off the late burst from O'Rourkee and other Black Caps' bowlers, building a handy partnership of 59 runs for the fifth wicket.

At the close of play on Day 2, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell had made sure that New Zealand got themselves in a comfortable position. Although they lost wickets at regular intervals in the first session, they managed to take a lead of 35 runs. Mitchell went on to score 57 off 86 balls while Glenn Phillips chipped in with a quick-fire 49-run knock off 48 balls.

Prabath Jayasuriya, at his favourite venue, finished with figures of 40-5-136-4. Ramesh Mendis, who returned to Test cricket after more than a year, took three wickets while Dhananjaya de Silva took one scalp. The pace duo of Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara could not make a breakthrough.

Nissanka, who looked in form in the first innings, could not go past double digits. But Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal put Sri Lanka back on track with a partnership of 147 runs for the second wicket. Karunaratne missed out in the first innings, but he made amends with a knock of 83 runs off 127 balls before Ajaz Patel removed him.

Chandimal also made 61 runs off 150 balls. Kamindu Mendis, who has been in the form of his life, looked promising with three fours before O'Rourke pinned him. Both De Silva and Mathews stayed not out on 34 each.