Sri Lanka were closing in on victory in the first Test against New Zealand at the end of the fourth day in Galle.

Opening batsmen Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne shared an unbroken partnership of 133 in 50 overs, just under halfway to Sri Lanka’s victory target of 268.

Skipper Karunaratne was unbeaten on 71 and Thirimanne 57 as the pair went past Sri Lanka’s previous best fourth-innings partnership, 124 against Pakistan in 2014.

Spinners Ajaz Patel, William Somerville and Mitchell Santner bowled extended spells, but the trio could not take advantage of a turning track before bad light stopped play prematurely.

New Zealand had resumed on 195-7, 177 runs in front, after a 35-minute morning delay for rain.

BJ Watling (77), Somerville (40) and Trent Boult (26) extended that advantage before New Zealand were finally dismissed for 285 in their second innings.

Lasith Embuldeniya finished with four wickets while Dhananjaya de Silva picked up three.