Christchurch: Sri Lanka were bowled out for 355 in their first innings against New Zealand on Friday after their last four wickets added 50 runs on the second morning of the first Test.
In a Test that Sri Lanka must win to keep their World Test Championship hopes alive, the back-order frustrated the New Zealand attack for 17 overs, including 12 with the new ball in Christchurch.
The overnight pair of Dhananjaya De Silva and Kisan Rajitha put on 11 runs in the opening over of the morning before Tim Southee came into the attack and caught De Silva for 46.
When the new ball was due, Matt Henry had Rajitha caught at mid-off for 22 and New Zealand felt the end was near.
Parbat Jayasuriya and Lahiro Kumara put on 38 balls for the ninth wicket while adding just five runs.
Henry eventually had Jayasuriya caught for 13, leaving Kumara (13 not out) and Isitha Fernando (10) to add another 19 runs off 26 balls for the final wicket.
On behalf of New Zealand, Southee took five wickets for 64 runs and Henry took four wickets for 80 runs.
