New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming emerged as the major winner on Tuesday as the rain-affected first Test against Sri Lanka fizzled out into a draw.

Fleming, who made a Test-best 274 not out in the first innings, was unbeaten on 69 in the second innings as the match crawled to a close on the final day.

New Zealand, who made 515 for seven declared in their first innings before dismissing the home side for 483, declared again on 161 for five before both captain shook on a draw.

The left-handed Fleming now averages 83 against the Sri Lankans, having scored one double century, one century and six fifties against them in eight Tests. His previous Test best score of 174 not out also came against them.

There was some late consolations for the home side's attack, as 20-year-old leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi, making his debut, took his first two Test wickets and Muttiah Muralitharan claimed three more to take his career tally to 442.

Lokuarachchi trapped Matthew Horne (42) leg before for the first wicket and also dismissed Scott Styris.

Off-spinner Muralitharan struck twice in four balls, with Jacob Oram caught by wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana on 19 and Robbie Hart caught by Sangakkara for a duck. Earlier he also had Mathew Sinclair caught for a single, to end with three for 41 off 30 overs.

The other personal highlights came from Hashan Tillakaratne and Daniel Vettori.

Sri Lanka's new captain added 18 to reach 144 before he was bowled by strike bowler Shane Bond after Sri Lanka had resumed on 424 for six.

Kiwi left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori then took three wickets, all lbw, in five balls to wrap up the innings. Vettori had a big lbw shout against Muralitharan turned down with his hat-trick ball.

Only one New Zealander has ever claimed a Test hat-trick, off-spinner Peter Petherick achieving the feat in 1976 against Pakistan.

Vettori ended with three for 94 from 33 overs while Bond took three for 97 from 28.

The second and final Test begins in Kandy on Saturday. New Zealand, third in the world Test rankings, have not won a series in Sri Lanka for 20 years.

Scoreboard

New Zealand (1st innings): 515-7 declared (S.Fleming 274 not out, M.Richardson 85).

Sri Lanka (1st innings): (overnight 424-6) M.Atapattu lbw Tuffey 0, S.Jayasuriya b Bond 50, C.Vaas c Fleming b Bond 4, K.Sangakkara c Oram b Wiseman 67, M.Jayawardene c Hart b Oram 58, H.Tillakaratne b Bond 144, R.Kaluwitharana c Sinclair b Wiseman 76, K.Dharmasena lbw Vettori 31, K.Lokuarachchi not out 28, P.Nissanka lbw Vettori 0, M.Muralitharan lbw Vettori 0. Extras (lb-21 nb-4) 25. Total (all out, 152 overs) 483.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-114, 4-134, 5-267, 6-374, 7-444, 8-483, 9-483, 10-483.

Bowling: Tuffey 17-5-54-1 (nb-2), Bond 28-6-97-3 (nb-1), Oram 30-13-62-1 (nb-1), Vettori 33-8-94-3, Wiseman 41-13-127-2, Styris 3-0-28-0.

New Zealand (2nd innings): M.Horne lbw Lokuarachchi 42, S.Fleming not out 69, M.Sinclair c sub (Dilshan) b Muralitharan 1, S.Styris lbw Lokuarachchi 16, J.Oram c Kaluwitharana b Muralitharan 19, R.Hart c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 0, M.Richardson not out 6. Extras (lb-6 nb-1 b-1) 8. Total (for five wickets, declared, 78 overs) 161.

Did not bat: D.Vettori, P.Wiseman, D.Tuffey, S.Bond.

Fall of wickets: 1-71, 2-76, 3-108, 4-133, 5-133.

Bowling: Vaas 7-2-27-0, Nissanka 6-1-18-0, Muralitharan 30-15-41-3 (nb-1), Lokuarachchi 19-2-47-2, Dharmasena 16-7-21-0.

Result: Match drawn.

Second Test: May 3-7, Kandy.

Third Test: May 9-13, Kandy.