NZ vs SL: Mathews shines, Christchurch Test hangs in balance

The ongoing opening Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka continues to hang in balance. The Kiwis need 257 runs to win on the final day with nine wickets in hand. In a chase of 285, they finished Day 4 at 28/1. Meanwhile, the visitors managed 302 in their second innings thanks to Angelo Mathews' 115-run knock. Here's how the fourth day proceeded.

Sri Lanka, who were handed a first-innings deficit of 18 runs, resumed at their overnight score of 83/3. Mathews led his side's fightback with a remarkable ton. The veteran was well supported by Dinesh Chandimal (42) and Dhananjaya de Silva (47*). Blair Tickner (4/100) was the pick of the NZ bowlers. In reply, the Kiwis were 28/1 at the end of the day's play.

This was Mathews' 14th Test ton and a second one versus the Kiwis. Mathews, who accumulated a 235-ball 115, has raced to 1,001 Test runs against NZ at 55.61. He added 105 runs with Chandimal and 60 runs with De Silva. The batter, who scored 47 in SL's first innings, earlier in the match, became the third SL batter to complete 7,000 Test runs.