The Black Caps are staring at a heavy defeat in Galle.

With their top order batsmen back in the pavilion, Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips provided stiff resistance in the post-tea session, bringing the team’s total to 150 runs and forming a crucial unbroken partnership of 78 runs for the sixth wicket before the match was called off.

The Black Caps’ current World Test Championship tilt seems set to fall short but Tim Southee has taken solace in identifying the batter and bowler to spear