Jayasuriya will need to dismiss all five remaining New Zealand batsmen to equal the record for fastest bowler to 100 Test wickets, held since 1896 by England's George Lohmann who reached the milestone in his 16th Test.

Jayasuriya will need to dismiss all five remaining New Zealand batsman to equal the record for fastest bowler to 100 Test wickets, held since 1896 by England's George Lohmann who reached the milestone in his 16th Test.

For Kamindu Mendis it was a world record eighth consecutive fifty since the 25-year-old's debut against Australia at the same venue two years ago.

Prabath Jayasuriya took five wickets to steer Sri Lanka to a 63-run victory Monday against New Zealand on the final morning of the first Test in Galle.

The tourists were 207-8, 68 runs behind their victory target, at stumps with hosts Sri Lanka taking the upper hand in the contest.

Electing to bat in the first match of the two-Test series, Sri Lanka slumped to 106-4 but Kamindu's fourth Test hundred ensured the hosts breached the 300-mark.

On a spin-friendly pitch New Zealand face an emboldened Sri Lanka who last week ended a 10-year wait for a Test win in England.

Fernando last played for the Test team against New Zealand in March 2023 but has forced his way back after a strong showing for the Sri Lanka 'A' side against their counterparts from South Africa this month with scores of 122 and 80.

Matthews scored a defiant 115 and shared partnerships of 105 with Dinesh Chandimal (42) and 60 with Dhananjaya de Silva (47 not out) to help extend Sri Lanka's lead from 65 runs overnight to 284 when they were dismissed for 302

Black Caps captain Tim Southee won the toss in Christchurch, where conditions were ripe for his attack to strike, but instead it was Sri Lanka's band of classy batsmen who dominated

The series is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship period (2021-23) and Sri Lanka still have an outside chance of reaching June's decider should they complete a 2-0 scoreline, but Southee is aiming to make it as difficult as possible for the tourists to achieve

India could take matters out of Sri Lankan hands with a win in its fourth Test against Australia next week but Silverwood said the team would be determined to take advantage of any slip up to raise the spirits of an embattled nation