HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) Martin Guptill and Tom Latham shared an unbroken opening stand of 61 for New Zealand which kept the second cricket test against Sri Lanka closely balanced at lunch on the second day.
New Zealand earlier Saturday dismissed Sri Lanka for 292 after it resumed its first innings at 264-7 in a session which was extended because rain shaved 23 overs off Friday's play.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, 63 not out overnight, lifted his total to 77 before becoming Tim Southee's third wicket of the innings and ninth of the series. New Zealand quickly wrapped up the Sri Lanka tail, allowing the tourists only 28 runs in 13.1 overs for their last three wickets.
At lunch Guptill was 39 not out, Tom Latham was 21 not out and New Zealand - 61-0 - trailed Sri Lanka by 231 runs. Guptill and Latham compiled their runs in 86 minutes with Guptill's innings including seven fours and a six.
Sri Lanka's total was reasonable after it lost the toss Friday and was sent in to bat on a green wicket which offered some assistance to New Zealand's four-pronged pace attack.
Mathews' 77 was the top score, while Milinda Siriwardana (62), Dinesh Chandimal (47) and Kusal Mendis (31) made valuable contributions.
Sri Lanka looked to Mathews Saturday to marshal the lower order and he made a sound start before falling to a brilliant catch by Latham from Southee's bowling. He was drawn into a shot by a ball on a good length and edged the ball wide of Latham who took a sprawling catch.
Suranga Lakmal made four before sending a short ball from Neil Wagner to Kane Williamson in the gully. But he was involved in a drama the ball before when he fended down a ball from Wagner which bounced back and firmly rapped middle stump without dislodging the bails.
It was the second time in the match that a delivery from a New Zealand bowler struck the stumps without removing the bails - Doug Bracewell had the same experience on the first day.
The innings ended when Dushmantha Chameera (4) was caught at mid-off by Brendon McCullum off Bracewell.
Southee finished with 3-63, Trent Boult with 2-51 and Bracewell with 2-81.
