At Khettarama Stadium, Colombo, December 4 (day/night). No result. Toss: Sri Lanka.

A downpour allowed New Zealand to do a Houdini, according to Crowe, after a sub-standard performance. The match was abandoned when Sri Lanka were 41 for two wickets – both taken by Pringle, at his fiery best – from 10.2 overs and coasting: the original target was 167 from 50 overs, but to achieve a positive result they needed only 67 from 20. Ranatunga was enraged when umpires Francis – who was later replaced for the Second Test – and Manuel called off the game because of a soggy outfield, with Sri Lanka just 26 short. New Zealand were deprived of seam bowler Owens before the start; he lost two teeth in an accident while practising. Their revised line-up, in which Parore was promoted to open with Wright, batted dismally.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd