New Zealand have pegged back Sri Lanka with three quick wickets late in the opening session on day three of the second cricket Test in Hamilton.
The tourists went to the break at 3-85 in their second innings, an overall lead of 140 after bowling out the Black Caps earlier for 237.
Opener Kasul Mendis on 45 and skipper Angelo Mathews yet to score.
Doug Bracewell effected the initial breakthrough on Sunday by removing opener Dimuth Karunaratne for 27 and then dismissed Udara Jayasundera for a duck two balls later.
Fellow seamer Neil Wagner chimed in by getting rid of Dinesh Chandimal for four as the tourists lost 3-6.
Expectations were that the third day would provide the best batting conditions of the Test so far and Karunaratne and Mendis made careful progress in building Sri Lanka's best opening stand in 12 months.
But with the total on 71, Bracewell got Karunaratne defending a short ball to the slips.
He produced a similar delivery to Jayasundera, who was given not out when New Zealand appealed for caught behind, a decision reversed by TV umpire Richard Kettleborough.
Wagner then had the in-form Chandimal caught at leg gully and Sri Lanka had slumped to 3-77.
Earlier, New Zealand added five runs to their overnight score before losing their final wicket, Trent Boult for 0, to end their first innings.
Bracewell was unbeaten on 35 as the Black Caps trailed the tourists by 55 runs.
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera was the stand-out of the Sri Lankan attack, taking 5-47 for his first five-wicket bag.
Playing in his fourth Test, the 23-year-old began the Black Caps collapse on day two after the hosts had been 0-81.
New Zealand lead the two-match series 1-0.
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