GALLE, Sri Lanka, Sept 22, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - New Zealand were 114-4 at tea on the fourth day Sunday in their chase of 275 for victory as the first Test against Sri Lanka looked set for a nervy finish.

A sharply turning pitch had the Black Caps waging an uphill battle in Galle, where they have lost all four of their previous Test encounters.

The afternoon session was disrupted by two rain delays but that failed to halt Sri Lanka's growing momentum.

Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell were batting at the break. 

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya secured the key wicket of Kane Williamson for 30, the former skipper lured out of his crease and stumped by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.

New Zealand opener Tom Latham was trapped lbw by Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva for 28, while Ramesh Mendis bowled Daryl Mitchell for eight.

All three batsmen had made half-centuries in the first innings.

Ajaz Patel's six-wicket haul helped restrict Sri Lanka to 309 in the morning. 

His figures of 6-90 were the best by a New Zealand bowler in Sri Lanka since Daniel Vettori's 6-64 in Colombo in 1998.

The match had a rest day on Saturday due to Sri Lanka's presidential elections, and play resumed on Sunday morning without spectators.

Fans returned after lunch when the curfew was lifted.

The hosts were 237-4 at the start of the day and added another 72 runs, with veteran Angelo Matthews making 50 before offering a simple catch to first slip off Patel's bowling.

Dimuth Karunaratne top-scored for Sri Lanka with 83 before he was bowled by Patel on Friday. 

The second and final match of the series will be held at the same venue from Thursday.