Sri Lanka have recovered from some early wobbles on the opening morning of the first Test with the Black Caps in Wellington, reaching lunch at 73/3 at the Basin Reserve.
With Black Caps captain Kane Williamson winning the toss and opting to bowl first under grey skies on a green pitch, the visitors were quickly in trouble, with Tim Southee striking three times in his opening spell.
Southee struck with the final ball of his first over, trapping Danushka Gunathilaka lbw, sending the Sri Lankan opener back to the pavilion for just one.
It would be two wickets in three balls for Southee, as Dhananjaya de Silva edged behind to BJ Watling, also out for one.
Kusal Mendis would be the third wicket to fall for Sri Lanka before drinks, clipping a ball straight to Ajaz Patel, out for two as Sri Lanka were reduced to 9/3 inside the opening four overs.
However, Sri Lankan pair of Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews would show their resolve, batting through to lunch, with an unbeaten stand of 64.
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