A soporific last day briefly burst into action before lunch as Daniel Vettori snared three wickets in five balls to bowl out Sri Lanka for 483. With 88 overs still to be bowled in the day and a first-innings deficit of just 32, Sri Lankan optimists may have hoped for a Muttiah Muralitharan-inspired collapse and an afternoon dash for victory.

Sri Lanka did sneak out a couple of wickets in quick succession after lunch, but Stephen Fleming carried on where he left off in the first innings, keeping Sri Lanka’s spinners at bay and anchoring New Zealand’s top order, snuffing out any chance of some late evening entertainment.

With 39 overs still remaining in the day, New Zealand went into tea on 112 for three with a lead of 144. Fleming extended his match aggregate to 318, finishing on 44 not out.

For Sri Lanka, it provided Kaushal Lokuarachchi with a chance for an extended bowl. Preferred to the more established Upul Chandana in this game – a decision that drew criticism from some quarters – he needed to impress to guarantee his place in the side for the Kandy Test. He duly did, taking 2 for 35 from 14 overs.

Lokuarachchi ended a positive innings from Matt Horne, who swatted a Chaminda Vaas bouncer for six and hit three fours in his 95-ball 42, with a well-flighted legbreak that dipped in the air and straightened sufficiently to win a leg-before decision (71 for two).

Matthew Sinclair was snapped soon after by Tillakaratne Dilshan at bat-pad off Muralitharan before Lokuarachchi won his second lbw decision of the day against Scott Styris, ending a 32 run stand for the third wicket (108 for 3).

Earlier Sri Lanka, 424 for 6 when play was abandoned last night, added 59 runs for the loss of their last four wickets in the 17 overs bowled in the first hour, conceding a slender 32-run lead to New Zealand.

Hashan Tillakaratne was the first to be dismissed in the morning. Tillakaratne chopped the ball on to his stumps as he attempted a tired dab to third man (444 for 7). He had scored 144 from 314 balls, hitting 24 boundaries in an innings that had started on the third afternoon.

Lokuarachchi began his Test batting career with an entertaining cameo, sweeping the offspin of Paul Wiseman for a six and a four as he stroked 28 from 29 balls. Then Vettori finished the innings in a hurry, winning three leg-before decisions in an over.

Kumar Dharmsena shuffled across the stumps and missed the ball as he tried to flick to leg (483 for 8) and Nissanka played defensively down the wrong line (483 for 9). When Muttiah Muralitharan was rapped on the pads next ball, Vettori was convinced he had secured a hat-trick. But Simon Taufel refused to raise his finger. Not that it mattered much – two balls later Muralitharan was plumb.

Vettori, who had waited 33 overs for his first wicket, finished with 3 for 94 but Bond was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 97 from 28 overs.

With 88 overs still to be bowled in the day, Sri Lankan optimists may have hoped for a Muttiah Muralitharan-inspired collapse and an afternoon dash for victory, but on such a placid pitch, the likeliest outcome remained a dreary draw.

Had Kumar Sangakkara clung onto a regulation slip chance off Matthew Horne in Prabath Nissanka’s fourth over with the new ball, there might have been a palpitation or two in the visitors' dressing room. Horne and Stephen Fleming, opening in place of the injured Mark Richardson, carried New Zealand into lunch on 35 for no loss.

Hashan Tillakaratne thrust his premier strike bowler into the fray as early as the sixth over but Muralitharan failed to cause substantial problems, despite extracting prodigious turn. Fleming, who hogged the strike against Muralitharan, padded away carefully, wary of the cluster of close-in fielders. Horne, playing more freely, finished the session on 29 while Fleming faced 42 balls for his 5.

Sri Lanka, 424 for 6 when play was abandoned last night, added 59 runs for the loss of their last four wickets in the 17 overs bowled in the first hour, ceding a slender 32-run lead to New Zealand.

Hashan Tillakaratne was the first to be dismissed in the morning. Tillakaratne chopped the ball on to his stumps as he attempted a tired dab to third man (444 for 7). He had scored 144 from 314 balls, hitting 24 boundaries in an innings that had started on the third afternoon.

Kaushal Lokuarachchi entertained for a while in his first Test innings, sweeping the offspin of Paul Wiseman for a six and a four as he stroked 28 from 29 balls. Then Vettori finished the innings in a hurry, winning three leg-before decisions in an over.

Kumar Dharmsena shuffled across the stumps and missed the ball as he tried to flick to leg (483 for 8) and Nissanka played defensively down the wrong line (483 for 9). When Muttiah Muralitharan was rapped on the pads next ball, Vettori was convinced he had secured a hat-trick. But Simon Taufel refused to raise his finger. Not that it mattered much – two balls later Muralitharan was plumb.

Vettori, who had waited 33 overs for his first wicket, finished with 3 for 94 but Bond was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 97 from 28 overs.

Ominously for thrill seekers, Hashan Tillakaratne, who switched into limpet mode on Monday, determined as he was to ensure a draw for Sri Lanka, promised more of the same on the final day. Spectators are advised to bring a book.

Tillakaratne, having just taken over the Test captaincy from Sanath Jayasuriya, had already played a major hand in saving the game. He had crawled to an unbeaten 126 from 294 balls, an innings that would now span over three days. Sri Lanka saved the follow-on on day four, finishing on 424 for 6.

With Sri Lanka now just 91 runs behind, a positive leader could have considered an overnight declaration. With more than 100 overs to be bowled in the day, after washouts on the two previous nights, there could conceivably be enough time for Muttiah Muralitharan to create some mayhem.

It would not be realistic, however, to expect Tillakaratne to be so bold in his first game as captain. In any case, quite remarkably, the pitch remained firm and true. Jeff Crowe, New Zealand’s manager, believed that it is actually getting easier to play on with each session.