SL vs NZ 1st Test Live score: Day 2

Tim Southee to Dimuth Karunaratne, Short of a length, a bit too straight and angling into the left-hander. Dimuth Karunaratne stays put and tucks it away neatly wide of deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

Tim Southee to Pathum Nissanka, Half a shout for LBW but seemed to be going down leg. Southee floats it up on the pads, looking for that magical away swinger but the ball slides on and clips the back pad of Pathum Nissanka before rolling away past short fine leg. They get a leg bye.

Tim Southee to Pathum Nissanka, Similar length, just a tad outside off, Pathum Nissanka presses back and gently blocks it away towards covers.

Tim Southee to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! Oh, inside edge right away! Southee bowls this one just short of a good length and on off, gets the ball to nip away and gets additional bounce as well. Pathum Nissanka looks to defend off the back foot but gets an inside edge that goes past the stumps and into the fine leg fence.

All in readiness for the game to begin! The umpires are out in the middle and so are the players of New Zealand who form a huddle before taking their places on the field. It will be the pair of Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka to open the innings for Sri Lanka. Skipper, Tim Southee well take the new ball for the Kiwis and is raring to go. Three slips and a gully in place, let's go...

We are just a few minutes away from the start of this Test match but first, the two sets of players will line up for their respective national anthems. It will be the national anthem of New Zealand first, followed by that of Sri Lanka.

PITCH REPORT - Farvez Maharoof is pitchside. He says that the conditions look fantastic and goes on to say that the pitch looks the same and adds that there is a lot of grass on the pitch which will aid the pacers early on. Mentions that a big first innings score is always crucial in Galle.

Tim Southee, the captain of New Zealand says that when you come to this part of the world you want to bat first and adds that they have a couple of proper spinners and a couple of batters who can bowl spin and it's nice to get back to Test cricket.

Dhananjaya de Silva, the captain of Sri Lanka says that they will bat first the fourth innings will be difficult and adds that they are going in with 2 proper spinners and 2 fast bowlers. Adds that the team is motivated and is looking forward to this competition.

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (C), Ajaz Patel, William O'Rourke.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Kusal Mendis (WK), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.