Fleming denies SL

A courageous knock by injured skipper Stephen Fleming countered the feisty bowling of the unorthodox Lasith Malinga to steer New Zealand to safety and a drawn first cricket Test against Sri Lanka here Friday.

Malinga ended with a well-deserved five wicket bag, but not before Fleming had returned to the crease with an injured hand to carry New Zealand from their precarious lunch total of 148 for seven to be all out at tea for 238.

His valuable 41 helped set the Sri Lankans the improbable target of 302 to win off 29 overs, and their innings lasted just nine balls and seven runs before the match was abandoned because of bad light.

All the New Zealand batsmen struggled with the slinging action of the speedster who won the man-of-the-match award with his first career bag of five wickets, five for 80, to give him nine for the match.

His performance was all the more remarkable as the McLean Park wicket had proved very much a bowler's graveyard for the first four days where the combined first innings totalled more than 1,000 runs.

But while a draw appeared inevitable when New Zealand started their second innings late on the fourth day, Malinga had other ideas, carving through the cream of New Zealand batting.

By lunch on the final day New Zealand were seven wickets down, Fleming had retired hurt and they held an overall lead of just 211.

But the New Zealand captain returned after the break, joining Lou Vincent to put the brakes on the batting collapse.

Vincent, who survived a disputed catch by Tillakaratne Dilshan off Malinga on 37, posted his eighth Test half-century before he was bowled by Upul Chandana for 52.

As luck turned New Zealand's way, new batsman Kyle Mills was given not out on nought by Steve Bucknor despite getting a big edge at Malinga.

Mills and Fleming added a valuable 41 for the ninth wicket, with Mills scoring 22 before he was caught by Jayasuriya off spinner Rangana Herath.

Fleming batted 155 minutes and faced 122 balls for his captain's knock of 41 before he was caught on the square leg boundary to end the innings and give Malinga his fifth wicket.

Malinga ended the day as he started -- with a wicket -- when night watchman Paul Wiseman was struck on the back pad with a full toss and umpire Steve Bucknor gave the decision.