New Zealand lost the first Test of the 2 match Test series against Sri Lanka by 63 runs. Despite losing to the home side, captain Tim Southee manages to see the positive outcomes of this match. Skipper Southee was all praise for Will O' Rourke and Rachin Ravindra.

In regards to O' Rourke, Southee said, "Will's had a very short Test career so far, and he's certainly announced himself," Southee said after the match. "We saw in New Zealand how dangerous he can be. He's got the skills to have a very good Test career. For him to come to his first Test in the subcontinent and walk away with a very impressive eight wickets for the match is nothing short of special. He's got a great head on his shoulders, and he's a big guy. So there's a lot to like about Will O'Rourke."

On the batting side, 24-year-old Rachin Ravindra delivered a remarkable knock, scoring 92 — his second-highest in Test cricket — on a challenging fourth-innings pitch as New Zealand chased a tough target of 275. While Ravindra made a name for himself during last year's ODI World Cup in India, he's still establishing himself at the highest level. His composed performance in just his third Test match in Asia stood out, as he capitalized on loose deliveries and kept the scoreboard moving with a calm, calculated approach on day four.

"Rachin kept us in the hunt with that chase," Southee said. "We knew it was [a] tough ask, and that it was going to take something special, with the wicket taking a lot of turn in these last couple of days. It was a great knock in those conditions.

"It's not easy to bat - the ball was spinning, and doing all sorts [of things]. For a young guy without a lot of experience in this part of the world to go out and get 90-odd was great signs for him as well. He's another one that's an exceptional talent, and he's had a little taste of international cricket as well, and done exceptionally well. He's a great young kid with a good head on his shoulders."