Only two run outs and a stumble when the partnership between Mathews (63 not out) and Siriwardana (62) was broken detracted from Sri Lanka’s best batting effort of the series, which overturned expectations that the team that bowled first would win the day.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat on a lush green pitch at Seddon Park, expecting his bowlers to dominate in conditions which supported both seam and swing.

Apart from Mathews, who maintains a test average in excess of 50, and Siriwardana, who reached his second test half century, Kusal Mendis made 31 and Dinesh Chandimal 47 as Sri Lanka kept up a lively run rate of four per over throughout the day