New Zealand have put themselves in command of the first Test against Sri Lanka following a strong performance on day three, giving them a lead of 308 runs.

The tourists began the day 197-4 with Dinesh Chandimal and Kithuruwan Vithanage unbeaten at the crease, but their morning got off to the worst possible start when Chandimal was dismissed for 83 by Tim Southee, failing to add to his overnight score.

Southee struck again to remove Vithanage for 22, but Milinda Siriwardana and Rangana Herath provided stoic resistance for Sri Lanka as they managed to guide their team past the 250-run mark.

However, Neil Wagner came into the attack to remove both batsmen to end their stand of 43 runs, while Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner took the final two wickets of the innings, with the tourists 137 runs behind New Zealand's first-innings total.

Tom Latham and Martin Guptill began to take the match away from Angelo Mathews's men with a strong opening partnership as they edged past 50.

Guptill was removed by Herath for 46, leaving Brendon McCullum's men 72-1. However, Kane Williamson arrived at the crease and continued his side's solid display.

Latham notched his seventh Test match half-century before the close to leave him unbeaten on 72, while Williamson was on 48 as the Kiwis ended the day on 171-1, 308 runs ahead of Sri Lanka.