Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor pushed New Zealand close to victory in the first test against Sri Lanka on Monday as they reached 76 for two at tea, needing another 29 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-test series.
Williamson was on 24 and Taylor 15 not out as the hosts battled to reach their target of 105 runs on the fourth day at Hagley Oval in Christchurch after bowling Sri Lanka out for 407 in their second innings.
Tom Latham (17) and Hamish Rutherford (10) were both dismissed as Sri Lanka's bowlers made life difficult for New Zealand's batsmen.
The opening pair had looked comfortable before Latham was deceived by the flight and turn from debutant off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal and was caught at slip by Angelo Mathews with the score 23 for one.
Rutherford was then surprised by a Shaminda Eranga delivery that bounced off a length and caught the shoulder of his bat with the ball looping to Niroshan Dickwella at gully to leave New Zealand 43 for two.
Sri Lanka had been bowled out for 407 in their second innings in an extended first session before lunch after Tim Southee had taken three quick wickets in the first hour of play.
However, a 59-run final wicket partnership, characterised by lusty slogs across the line, between Eranga (45 not out) and Suranga Lakmal (16) had frustrated the New Zealand bowlers and extended the session past the normal lunch break.
Lakmal eventually became Trent Boult's fourth wicket when he had another cross-bat swing at a short delivery and got a leading edge to Southee at mid off.
Southee, who also took two catches in the innings, finished with 4-91 from 37 overs while Boult took 4-100 from 39 and the pair would relish an extra day's rest before the second test begins in Wellington on Saturday.
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