Watling leads Kiwi fightback: 1st Test, Day 3 (Galle)

A fighting half-century from wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling helped New Zealand take a lead of 177 at stumps.

Watling struck 63 not out when bad light stopped play 15 minutes before the scheduled close with New Zealand 195-7.

Earlier, Watling and Southee added 54 runs for the seventh wicket after NZ were struggling at 124-6.

Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya finished the day with 4-71. Dhanajaya de Silva took 2-16.

New Zealand 195 for 7 (Watling 63*, Latham 45, Embuldeniya 4-71) and 249 lead Sri Lanka 267 (Dickwella 61, Mendis 53, Mathews 50, Lakmal 40, Patel 5-89) by 177 runs.

Aug 2019.