The first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand ended in a draw. Sri Lanka was able to save the match due to the herculean efforts of the two centurions, BKG Mendis 141, DK Mathews 120.

Cricinfo quoted Mathews as telling after the match, "They were coming really hard at us and they were trying to bowl short at our bodies. As long as I don't put my bat in the way, I knew that I wasn't going to get out. That's why I just stood there getting hit on the body. I thought it will hurt a little bit, but it's not going to get me out. That's the message that I wanted to give the bowlers as well"

After fighting hard for 87 overs, Sri Lanka found themselves at 275-9 at stumps on day one of the first Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Fighting knocks from Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Matthews and later Niroshan Dickwella brought some respectability to the visitor's total. Tim Southee was on a roll as he took five of the Lankan wickets.

Final scorecard: Match drawn

Sri Lanka 2nd innings: 287/3 in 113 overs. [BKG Mendis 141, DK Mathews 120]

Sri Lanka 1st innings: 282 all-out in 90 overs. [FDM Karunaratne 79, AD Mathews 83, N Dickwella 80.]

New Zealand 1st innings 578 in 157.3 overs.

[TWM Latham 264, KS Williamson (c) 91 runs]

Niroshan Dickwella remains unbeaten

Niroshan Dickwella continued his innings from 73 not out on day two and will be joined by the last man, Lahiru Kumara.

Channel Eye telecasted the match live in Sri Lanka. Sky Sports NZ broadcast the match live in New Zealand.

A see-saw day in Wellington

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bowl first on a green and a seam-friendly pitch.

Tim Southee got into the act early as he dismissed three Sri Lankan batsmen, even before the team's total was in double-digit figures. At 9 for the loss of 3 wickets, Matthews joined Karunaratne as the pair started building a partnership. Sri Lanka went past 100 runs on the back their stand. Just when it seemed that the Lankans were back in the game and moving ahead, Karunaratne got out for 79 runs.

After this, the visitors did get partnerships, but none of them was significant. When Matthews got out for 83 runs, Dickwella batted brilliantly to take Sri Lanka to a somewhat good position. He batted till the end of day's play and stayed not out for 73 runs. None of the other tail-enders could hang in there for much longer.

For New Zealand, Southee picked up five wickets, but Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme chipped in with a wicket apiece while Neil Wagner got two wickets as well.
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