Dilshan ton widens gap on New Zealand

Tillakaratne Dilshan hit an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka set New Zealand a target of 413 runs to win the first Test on Friday.

The dashing opener made 123 not out as Sri Lanka, leading by 153 runs on the first innings, declared their second innings at 259-4 at the stroke of tea on the fourth day at the Galle International Stadium.

The hosts have given themselves four sessions, weather permitting, to dismiss the illness-hit Kiwis and take the lead in the two-Test series.

Rain has been forecast later in the evening and during the final day's play on Saturday.

Dilshan, promoted to open the innings in this Test for the first time in his career, followed a brilliant 92 in the first innnigs with 12 boundaries and a six in his ninth Test century.

Earlier, Thilan Thushara and Muttiah Muralitharan claimed four wickets each as New Zealand, replying to Sri Lanka's 452, were bowled out for 299 in their first innings.

Muralitharan, Test cricket's leading bowler, had Iain O'Brien caught behind to claim his 100th wicket at Galle and take his overall record tally to 774 wickets.

Thushara then bowled Vettori in his first over, but not before the New Zealand captain had contributed a defiant 42.

The Kiwis woke up on Friday with the news that batsman Jesse Ryder and wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum had been laid low by a stomach bug and may not take further part in the Test.

"They are very sick and I am not sure if, and at what stage, they will take part in this Test," Black Caps manager David Currie told reporters.

The immediate concern for the tourists was finding a reserve wicket-keeper for the rest of the Test since Ryder had been nominated to don the gloves if McCullum got injured.

"There was no one else in the playing XI who could keep wicket and we requested the Sri Lankans if we could call up reserve wicket-keeper Reece Young as a special case," said Currie.

"The Sri Lankans kindly agreed to our request and we are very grateful to them."

Rules do not allow anyone outside the playing XI from keeping wicket.

Currie said five other players - Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, captain Daniel Vettori, Tim McIntosh and Chris Martin - had suffered minor stomach bugs since the Test started on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka lost Tharanga Paranavitana before lunch when he was snapped up in the slips by Ross Taylor off O'Brien.

Dilshan, batting in his typically aggressive manner, put on 101 runs for the second wicket with skipper Kumar Sangakkara and 54 for the third with Mahela Jayawardene.

Sangakkara was unlucky to be dismissed on 46 when Vettori deflected a powerful drive from Dilshan on to the non-striker's stumps with the Sri Lankan captain out of his crease.

Mahela Jayawardene gave off-spinner Jeetan Patel a return catch after making 27, and Thilan Sammaraweera top-edged a drive off Vettori behind the wicket-keeper and Taylor picked up the skier.

Prasanna Jayawardene hit a 26-ball 30 during a fifth-wicket stand of 54 with Dilshan before Sangakkara declared the innings.