Sri Lanka have dug themselves out of early trouble against New Zealand on the opening day of their first test at Wellington's Basin Reserve.
Reeling at 9/3 in the fourth over, the tourists rallied to 275/9 by the end of play, with three batsmen recording half-centuries during the revival.
Blackcaps bowler Tim Southee had Sri Lanka on the back foot taking three quick wickets, before returning later in the day to break their hearts again, bringing up his eighth five-wicket bag in tests.
But stubborn innings from Dimuth Karunaratne (79), Angelo Mathews (83) and Niroshan Dickwella (73 not out) helped Sri Lanka stave off disaster. After their early setbacks, opener Karunaratne and Mathews combined for a 133-run fourth wicket stand that dragged their side back into contention.
Karunaratne had to survive a big chance during the morning session, when he lobbed Colin de Grandhomme to midwicket, but was called back to the crease, when replays showed the bowler had overstepped his mark.
The pair reached lunch at 73/3, and both brought up their milestones during the afternoon session, before the opener finally snicked Neil Wagner legside to wicketkeeper BJ Watling for 79.
With captain Dinesh Chandimal at the wicket, Sri Lanka reached tea at 167/4, but the skipper holed out to Ajaz Patel, off Southee, early in the final session.
Then Southee had Mathews caught behind for 83, wresting the advantage back to the Kiwis at 187/6, before Dickwella provided some resilience late in the order. On the final ball of the day, Trent Boult took his first wicket, when Kasun Rajitha knicked one to Watling, who also finished with five catches.
Earlier, Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson won the toss and Southee wasted little time gaining the upper hand.
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In the day's second over, Southee had opener Danushka Gunathilaka trapped leg before wicket for one run, leaving the tourists at 6/1.
In his next over, Southee found the edge of Dhananjaya de Silva's bat and Watling completed the catch, reducing Sri Lanka to 7/2.
Later that same over, he enticed Kusal Mendis into a lofted shot that was caught at midwicket by Patel. Southee had 3/2 in eight balls.
But Karunaratne and Mathews proved resolute in the fightback.
Williamson liked the look of the green wicket at the Basin Reserve and decided to unleash his three-pronged pace-bowling attack of Southee, Wagner and Trent Boult.
Fresh from their historic away series victory over Pakistan in UAE last week, the Blackcaps faced the challenge of adapting back to more familiar local conditions, which saw Wagner replace second spinner Will Somerville in the line-up.
"It's not too bad," Williamson said of that adjustment. "It's almost like a continuation of that series, but on the other side of the world."
Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal admitted he would have made the same decision if he had won the toss.
New Zealand have won their last five tests against Sri Lanka and if they can win both tests, they would improve their world test ranking from fourth to second, behind India - their highest-ever standing.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are reeling from a series whitewash against England at home and currently rank sixth in the world.
New Zealand: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
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