NZ VS SL - 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2018-19

What a confidence boost this result is for Sri Lanka. No one gave them a chance following their 0-3 drubbing at home against England. And now they've managed to pull off one of the more memorable match-saving acts in recent times. This could do wonders for them going into Boxing Day. We'll see how that turns out. That's a wrap for now. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. This is Sagar Chawla saying goodbye on behalf of Nikhil Jadhav and our scorer Shashikant Singh.

Tom Latham, Man of the Match: Last few years some of the surfaces we've had have been a little bit spicy which is cool. Nice that I was able to spend some time out there and make a contribution. Nice tradition we've got going on, playing the Boxing Day in Christchurch.

Williamson, NZ captain: Would've been nice to pick few wickets yesterday, wasn't to be. Sri Lanka showed the character we know they have. Certainly the effort was there from us. Wicket didn't offer too much. It's down to some very patient and disciplined batting from Sri Lanka. Rare that you don't get an opportunity from somewhere. Jet lag does its thing and it takes a few days to get over it. But on Day 1, the guys were ready to go. A shame that the weather hung around today. We knew if we got one, who knew how many more we would've got. We know the wicket in Christchurch offers something to the seam bowlers. It's important we show the discipline we showed with the bat and ball.

Chandimal, Sri Lanka captain: It was a really good game of cricket. Showed a lot of character throughout. Not an easy task when the opposition get a lead of close to 300. Mathews has done really well, especially in last 4-5 Tests. He's an experienced player. Three wickets down in first innings, him and Dimuth put really good partnership. Then in second innings, him and Mendis were outstanding. Great feeling. If you compare to first day, there was a lot happening then. We got two young fast bowlers in this game, only Suranga has some experience. Got to learn a lot in the bowling unit. Looking forward to next game.

15:59 Local Time, 02:59 GMT, 08:29 IST: That's it, play is called off. Sri Lanka save the Test, something that seemed unthinkable on Day 3 evening when they were 13/3. But then their heroes - Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews - got together in an epic partnership that saw them bat the entirety of Day 4, a rare feat in this day and age. Both of them just set up camp at the crease, with New Zealand barely creating a chance in the 655 balls that their marathon lasted. Hard to say whether rain helped the duo today, or whether it spared the hosts more agony - because in the few overs that were possible, nothing had changed with Mendis and Mathews. They were still batting as if their lives depended on it.

Anand: This match is heading towards draw but I am still happy because my captain and vice captain in the fantasy league were both of them .

15:30 Local Time, 02:30 GMT, 08:00 IST: Not much has changed since our previous update, I'm afraid. The rain continues to come down, sometimes steadily, sometimes a little harder, just not willing to relent. The news is that the umpires and captains will assess conditions at 4pm local, and probably take a call then.

Giri Subramanian: Reminds me of India's stonewalling in the 2009 series in Napier where Gambhir played a marathon knock. VVS scored a hundred as well. That game enabled India to win the series eventually in New Zealand. Can Sri Lanka achieve the same?

Anand Says: We saw the trailer of Sri Lanka's 4th wicket partnership in 1st innings and here's the picture in the 2nd innings.

Shubham: This pair reminds me of Sanga - Jayawardhane pair. Absolute grit and determination.

Sai Kotesh: 4 sessions without a wicket - Are you kidding me?? -- Nope.

14:03 Local Time, 01:03 GMT, 06:33 IST: Lunch is done, but the covers remain firmly placed on the square. So there's going to be another delay due to rain. If anything, it looks like the drizzle has gotten harder. Quite frustrating. But it's nothing that the forecast didn't warn us of.

13:24 Local Time, 00:24 GMT, 05:54 IST: It has started to drizzle and the umpires have decided to take an early lunch. The covers have come on as the players make their way back to the pavilion. And that's the fourth successive wicketless session of this match. New Zealand have tried almost everything but this Lankan pair has come out on top each and every time. Although there's moisture in the air and the bowlers are able to generate some swing, the pitch is not offering enough purchase. With rain forecast for the rest of the day, this match is heading towards a draw, I reckon. Back in 40 minutes for the post-lunch session, hopefully with some good news and play.

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis, no run, driven crisply and the fielder at silly point gets in the way

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis, no run, pushed through on off, Kusal Mendis blocks it

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis, no run, quicker around off, full and Kusal Mendis defends it

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis, no run, darted on off, Kusal Mendis pushes it to cover

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis, no run, flighted delivery around middle and leg, Kusal Mendis defends

Ajaz Patel to Kusal Mendis, no run, shortish around off, punched into the off side

Wagner to Mathews, no run, fullish outside off, driven towards mid-off

Wagner to Mathews, no run, knocked towards mid-on off his back foot

Wagner to Mathews, no run, in the channel outside off, back of a length delivery that settles into the keeper's gloves

Wagner to Mathews, no run, tad short, tad low around middle and leg, nudged in front of short mid-wicket

Wagner to Mathews, no run, back of a length outside off, dabbed to point by Mathews

Wagner to Mathews, no run, tailing into the batsman from round the wicket, Mathews drives it to mid-on