Weather will hold the key for Sri Lanka, says Muralitharan

Resolute batting by New Zealand's eighth-wicket pair of Jesse Ryder and Daniel Vettori denied Sri Lanka a follow-on in the first Test yesterday.

The duo's 36-run stand helped New Zealand end Day 3 at 281-8, still 171 runs behind Sri Lanka's first innings total of 452.

Sri Lanka have two days, weather permitting, to force a win on a wearing wicket that has already started to assist the spinners.

"We must first take the last two wickets quickly. A lot will depend on the weather because we need to get two full days of cricket in," Sri Lanka's star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said.

"The wicket is very slow, but it will be interesting if we can set them about 300-325 runs on the last day."