SL struggle before rain intervenes

Tim Southee took two wickets as New Zealand tightened the screws on Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test on Sunday, but rain threatened to derail their victory hopes. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum set the stage for a tantalising conclusion at Dunedin’s University Oval with a sporting declaration that offered Sri Lanka more than five sessions to reach a 405-run target. But the tourists’ response was disrupted by three stoppages as southerly squalls swept across the ground.Further showers are forecast for the final day. At stumps on day four, with an hour’s play lost because of the weather, Sri Lanka were 109 for three, requiring a further 296 runs to pull off an epic victory.