New Zealand team saved follow-on on the third day of the first test match against Sri Lanka as New Zealand scored 281 runs for loss of 8 wickets at the end of third day at Galle on Thursday.

New Zealand resumed their inning today from the overnight score of 89 runs for loss of 2 wickets. Kiwi batsmen struggled against the Sri Lankan bowling attack as only one batsman was able to score half-century in the day.

T McIntosh was top scorer of the day with 69 runs. New Zealand was once struggling on 223 for seven when J Ryder (42) and D Vettori (33 not out) put together 36 runs for eight wickets to save follow-on.

T Thushara and M Muralitharan took three wickets each while K Kulasekara took important wicket of Ryder.