The weather could end up having the final say in the first Test between the Black Caps and Sri Lanka, with rain delaying the start of the fifth and final day and expected to continue throughout.
Covers remain on despite the 11am start time with rain currently spitting in the capital and current forecasts predicting the conditions to get worse as the day progresses.
Sri Lanka are entering today 259-3 in their second innings after a heroic fourth day from Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews who both compiled centuries and batted the entire day to claw back into the contest after Tom Latham's superb performance with the bat gave the Black Caps an edge.
Sri Lanka trail by 37 runs with seven wickets in hand, meaning even if the weather were to ease up enough for the Black Caps bowlers to attack again, it would take a catastrophic collapse by the visitors for the home side to claim a win.
Should the Test result in a draw, it would also end the Black Caps' chances on=f moving to second in the Test world rankings, as a 2-0 series sweep was required to make the jump.
Instead, the second and final test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch starting on Boxing Day would become the series decider.
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