Weakened Kiwis struggle in Galle

First Test, Galle (day four, close)
Sri Lanka 452 & 259-4 dec v New Zealand 299 & 30-1
Match scorecard

Tillakaratne Dilshan reaches his ninth Test century

Dilshan celebrates after reaching his century in Galle

New Zealand were struggling to avoid defeat on 30-1 when bad light stopped play on day four of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

The home side set the Kiwis a target for 413 by declaring on 259-4, with Tillakaratne Dilshan 123 not out.

Daniel Flynn was soon out for a duck but Martin Guptill (17) and Ross Taylor survived to the close.

To add to New Zealand's problems, Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum are both ill and may not be able to bat.

They were the worst affected among seven players hit by a stomach upset, the others being Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Flynn, Tim McIntosh and Chris Martin.

Sportingly, the home side allowed New Zealand to use Reece Young - not one of the original playing XI - to deputise for McCullum as wicketkeeper.

"Normally we would have gone with Jesse as our reserve keeper and after that we would have gone to Tim McIntosh, but he's not too good either," said New Zealand coach Andy Moles.

"So we made a request to use to Reece under special circumstances and its really good that they've allowed it so I'm thankful to them."

New Zealand started the day on 281-8 in their first innings and only managed to add 18 to the total before Muttiah Muralitharan removed Iain O'Brien and Thilan Thusara bowled Daniel Vettori for 42 - the pair both finishing with four wickets each.

606: DEBATE

NZ would be hoping that their batsmen would continue to show fight, and some bad weather can help too

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The early loss of Tharanga Paranavitana for five got Sri Lanka's second innings off to a poor start, but Dilshan ensured that was soon remedied.

He put on 101 with Kumar Sangakkara for the second wicket and 54 with Mahayla Jayawardene for the third, hitting a six and 12 fours in his 131-ball innings before Jayawardene called a halt at tea.

Flynn was pressed into service as a makeshift opener by the Kiwis because McIntosh was not well enough to go in first, but he only lasted three balls before being superbly caught by Jayawardene at second slip off Nuwan Kulasekera.

And the tourists may need more help from the weather on the final day to fend off the prospect of defeat.

"We can't control the weather, but the wicket has started to turn as Vettori showed today," said Dilshan. "It will not be easy to play Muralitharan on this wicket for an entire day."