Resilient Kiwis hold up Sri Lanka

First Test, Galle (day three)
Sri Lanka 452 v New Zealand 281-8
Match scorecard

Vettori and Iain O'Brien will be tasked with making inroads into the NZ deficit

New Zealand had to rely on a resolute eighth-wicket stand between Jesse Ryder and Daniel Vettori to avoid the follow-on as Sri Lanka dominated on day three.

Resuming on 87-2, still 365 runs behind Sri Lanka's first innings total, the Black Caps lost wickets regularly.

A gutsy 69 from Tim McIntosh led the Kiwis to 180-3, but three wickets for 15 runs after lunch left New Zealand still short of the follow-on target.

But Ryder (42) and Vettori (33no) dug in to help them to 281-8 by stumps.

It left New Zealand still 171 runs behind, meaning Sri Lanka have two days, weather permitting, to force a win at the Galle International Stadium on a wearing wicket that has already started to assist the spinners.

606: DEBATE

Can New Zealand save the Test?

However, they may have to hope for better conditions aftera third day which saw only 76 overs bowled after heavy rain delayed the start by 90 minutes and bad light ended play 20 minutes early.

It didn't overly affect McIntosh, though, who played for time in the conditions as New Zealand look to save the match.

"This was a new experience for me and I tried to play for as long as possible," he said. "But one needs to convert the 50s into bigger scores.

"We lost some wickets in a heap, but Dan (Vettori) and Iain are still there and hopefully we can push on from here."

But with Thilan Thushara (3-80) and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (3-66) both on form, the hosts will hope to wrap up the Kiwi innings early on day four to give themselves a chance of victory.