All-round Black Caps on top

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New Zealand’s bowlers backed up the efforts of Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson to put Sri Lanka under the cosh in the second and final Test at Colombo's P Sara Oval.

Knowing they require victory to earn a draw in the rubber, the Black Caps - having resumed on 223 for two - took their score to 413 all out as Taylor and Williamson kicked on.

The former went on to strike 142 and the latter 135, while Daniel Flynn also chipped in with a handy half-century, helping steer the tourists to an impressive total.

Tim Southee then backed up those fine efforts, bowling Tillakaratne Dilshan for five and having Kumar Sangakkara - on the pull - caught at fine-leg for a fifth first-innings duck in nine Tests.

Tim Southee's two late wickets boosted New Zealand's chances of securing a victory that would seal a series draw against Sri Lanka

Trent Boult followed up his new-ball partner’s fine work by claiming the prized scalp of skipper Mahela Jayawardene, caught at gully, as Sri Lanka closed on 43 for three - 369 in arrears.

Williamson, who had already added more than 200 with Taylor by the time play ended early yesterday, needed nearly seven overs to get the five runs required to join his partner on three figures, doing so with an edge through third man.

Runs were tough to come by in the morning and Taylor perished trying to manufacture some via an ill-advised sweep shot off Rangana Herath, ending the partnership at 262.

Williamson appeared to be upping the rate as he cracked two fours off Dilshan, but departed in similar fashion to Taylor, the sweep shot again proving a poor choice.

Kruger van Wyk was then bowled by Dilshan for a duck to complete a good morning for the hosts.

Herath continued where he left off after lunch, trapping debutant Todd Astle - offering no shot - plumb in front in his second over of the afternoon session.

Flynn and Doug Bracewell shared a 46-run stand before the latter, on 24, heaved a Suraj Randiv delivery straight to Herath at deep midwicket.

After resisting for a while, Southee was tempted into going for a big hit off Herath, but got nowhere near the pitch of the ball and was bowled.

The Black Caps could have been nine down when Jeetan Patel edged a wide delivery from Nuwan Kulasekara, but Thilan Samaraweera was unable to hold on at first slip.

Flynn added only three runs in the evening session as Herath claimed two more wickets to finish with 6-103.

The spinner trapped Flynn for 53 playing back to a delivery that pitched outside off and turned in, and then removed Boult - bowled between bat and pad - to wrap things up.