Rookie New Zealand pace bowler William O'Rourke struck early to send back Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka as the hosts returned to bat on day three of the opening Test on Friday.

Their win at The Oval is a reminder that conversations about saving the game can begin with recognition that there is a great world out there

The fifth fastest test century by a Sri Lankan was made by middle-order batter Kithuruwan Vithanage on the tour of Bangladesh in 2013-14.

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.

New Zealand 255 for 4 (Latham 70, Williamson 55, Dhananjaya 2-31) trail Sri Lanka 305 (Kamindu 114, Kusal 50, O'Rourke 5-55) by 50 runs Partnerships were the name of the game as New Zealand strung together several of significance to come within 50 runs of Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 305 at stumps on day two in Galle.

Opener Tom Latham made 70 to power New Zealand's reply before departing in the final over before tea on the second day of the first Sri Lanka Test with the tourists 136-2 on Thursday. Latham put on a 63-run opening stand before Sri Lanka broke through when Devon Conway missed a straight ball from off-spinner Ramesh Mendis and was sent back lbw for 11.