SL vs NZ 1st Test: Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka complete a record chase at Galle, collect 60 points in the ICC World Test Championship

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne led from the front as Sri Lanka chased down a record total in Galle to win the first Test against New Zealand by six wickets.

Karunaratne (122) slammed his ninth Test century along with enjoying a record-equalling opening partnership of 161 with Lahiru Thirimanne, who made 64, as Sri Lanka collected their first points (60) of the ICC World Test Championship.

Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews scored an unbeaten 28 as the hosts finished off the game before lunch on Sunday afternoon.

Brief scores: New Zealand 249 (Ross Taylor 86; Akila Dananjaya 5-80, Suranga Lakmal 4-29) and 285 (BJ Watling 77; Lasith Embuldeniya 4-99) lost to Sri Lanka 267 (Niroshan Dickwella 61; Ajaz Patel 5-89) and 268/4 (Dimuth Karunaratne 122, Lahiru Thirimanne 64; Tim Southee 1-33) by six wickets.

“It was not easy to bat in the fourth innings. We wanted a good partnership and that’s what me and Thirimanne discussed. Once you get set, you got to finish the job.

“We saw (Ross) Taylor and (B.J.) Watling bat on this pitch. So we were saying it’s not too dangerous, we just have to spend some time in the middle,” Karunaratne said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

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