Thushara, Murali strike for Sri Lanka

Left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara and star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan combined to shatter New Zealand's middle order in the first Test on Thursday.

New Zealand, replying to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 452, lost three wickets in the post-lunch session on the third day to slip from 180-3 to 211-6 by tea at the Galle International Stadium.

Thushara had Ross Taylor caught behind for 35 and bowled Brendon McCullum for one, while off-spinner Muralitharan trapped the obdurate Tim McIntosh leg-before for 69.

Jesse Ryder (19) and Jacob Oram (three) will resume after tea with New Zealand still needing 42 runs to avoid a follow-on.

The middle order collapse undid the good work of McIntosh, who had batted through the rain-affected morning session after resuming at his overnight score of 36.

The left-handed opener survived two blows on his helmet and shoulder by rising deliveries from Thushara, but hung on for six hours to anchor New Zealand's reply.

The 29-year-old Auckland batsman, who has a century to his credit in five previous Tests but had never played an international match outside New Zealand, hit six boundaries and a six.

McIntosh scored 17 runs in the 90-minute first session after play was delayed for the third successive day due to early morning rain.

The umpires once again pushed back the lunch interval by an hour to make up for lost time.

Nightwatchman Jeetan Patel helped McIntosh put on 49 for the third wicket, himself contributing 26, before he was leg-before to Muralitharan 20 minutes before lunch.

Taylor added 51 runs for the fourth wicket when he edged a well-pitched delivery from Thushara to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Thushara removed McCullum soon after Muralitharan, the most successful bowler in Test history, had made McIntosh his 772nd victim.

New Zealand play two Tests, two Twenty20 internationals and a limited-overs tri-series also featuring India during the five-week tour.