The Black Caps have wrested back control of the first test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Thanks to half-centuries from Tom Latham and Kane Williamson, New Zealand were 255-4 at stumps on day two at Galle International Stadium on Thursday, in response to Sri Lanka's first innings of 305.
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Daryl Mitchell (41 not out) and Tom Blundell (18 not out) will resume on day three on Friday, first ball at 4.30pm NZ Time, with the Black Caps still trailing by 50 runs.
Latham and Williamson did their parts to put New Zealand in a good position. Latham (70 runs from 111 balls, including six fours) brought up his 29th test half-century in the second session, while Williamson (55 from 104) reached his test 50 for the 35th time in the third session.
The pair put on 73 runs for the second wicket, then Williamson and Rachin Ravindra (39 from 48) tacked on another 51 runs for the third wicket.
Williamson and Ravindra went back to the pavillion in quick succession, leaving the Black Caps 196-4, but Mitchell and Blundell steadied the ship again, adding 59 runs before stumps.
Earlier, paceman Will O'Rourke took two wickets as New Zealand cleaned up Sri Lanka's tail with the additional of only three runs from their overnight total.
O'Rourke grabbed his second test five-wicket bag, with figures of 5-55 from 18.5 overs, taking his wicket total to 16 in just his third test match.
Ajaz Patel added a second wicket on day two, finishing with figures of 2-60 from 20 overs.