Wellington: New Zealand wrestled back their way to maintain the ascendancy by securing two vital breakthroughs in the final session of day two of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Dunedin on Friday.

Sri Lanka reached 197 for four after bowling out the hosts for 431 half an hour into the morning session. The tourists suffered a shaky start before Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal steadied the innings by constructing a 122-run stand for the third wicket.