Rain halts Kiwis victory charge

DUNEDIN — Tim Southee took two wickets as New Zealand tightened the screws on Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test Sunday, but rain threatened to derail their victory hopes. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum set the stage for a tantalizing conclusion at Dunedin’s University Oval with a sporting declaration that offered Sri Lanka more than five sessions to reach a 405-run target. But the tourists’ response was disrupted by three stoppages as southerly squalls swept across the ground. Further showers are forecast for the final day. At stumps on day four, with an hour’s play lost because of the weather, Sri Lanka was 109 for three, requiring a further 296 runs. Dinesh Chandimal is not out 31 and captain Angelo Mathews has yet to face. Sri Lanka veteran Rangana Herath, 37, said they needed the pair to bat through the first session Monday to save the Test. “If they can get a good 80-100 runs partnership it’s still equal,” he said. With Sri Lanka going through a rebuilding phase, Herath said it was important to build confidence before the second Test. “It doesn’t matter if it’s winning or losing or even with a draw we need a positive mindset going to Hamilton. “We need to play our brand of positive cricket. I’m sure Angelo and Chandimal will do that.” New Zealand century-maker Tom Latham said the conditions meant it would not be easy to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings. “We are going to have to certainly work hard for our wickets,” he said, adding time was on their side. Sri Lanka’s highest fourth-innings chase is 352-9 against South Africa in 2006 and the highest by any side in New Zealand is 348-5 by the West Indies in 1969. McCullum declared New Zealand’s second innings at 267-3 to go with its 137-run first innings advantage. Sri Lankan openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis set about building a foundation reaching 54 in the 27th over when New Zealand struck twice. — AFP