Live Cricket Score - New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Day 1, Wellington

That's all from us folks! Do join us tomorrow at 1030 local time for the second day's play. Tata!

STUMPS - DAY 1

Two bursts from Tim Southee were enough to derail Sri Lanka on the opening day. New Zealand picked up the early advantage in the game, helped by the coin falling in their favour, as the visitors slipped to 275 for 9 on the green carpet laid out for the contest. For a change, the grass on the track did just what was expected - produce movement - and the Sri Lankan top order wasn't up to the mark. There was a fight, there was a wobble, there was a counter attack and then there was more frustration as bowlers ensured Sri Lanka never really got away.

The early burst from Southee, after Sri Lanka were put in, and the spell soon after Tea is where Sri Lanka really lost the plot. Danushka Gunathilaka was trapped lbw, Dhananjaya de Silva was undone by a peach while Kusal Mendis, for all his elegance, threw his wicket away to leave Sri Lanka at 9 for 3. With Trent Boult struggling for early rhythm, all the top order had to do was see off Southee. Instead, all fell to the pacer. Dimuth Karunaratne (79) and Angelo Matthews (83) showed just why experience becomes crucial in such conditions.

They saw off the first hour and reaped rewards. High risk, run chasing strokes weren't an option with the team on the verge of a collapse and the experienced duo were more than happy to play the waiting game. As the sun came out, and the ball lost its shine just a touch, things became relatively easy. Sri Lanka steadied the innings and went past 50 when they had their first reprieve. Karunaratne had flicked a full toss straight to midwicket in the 20th over but the bowler had delivered a big no-ball. The team went to lunch at 73 for 3 with New Zealand in the ascendancy.

It was only in the second session that Sri Lanka had a real chance of putting New Zealand under some real pressure. Karunaratne and Matthews frustrated the hosts as Boult struggled to trouble the batsmen. Ajaz Patel did the holding job while Neil Wagner toiled hard, sending down a barrage of short deliveries, with not much effect. Sri Lanka looked poised to play out a wicketless session but Karunaratne's aggressive eventually resulted in his dismissal. Having put away two short balls to the on side for boundaries, he gloved one down the leg side to give Wagner the reward he was desperately searching for.

At Tea, Sri Lanka were 167 for 4. Another resurrection job was needed but instead it all came crashing down. Southee dismissed both Dinesh Chandimal and Matthews in quick succession - both falling trying to pounce on short balls - to complete his eighth five-wicket haul. Niroshan Dickwella played the way he usually does. Fortunately for Sri Lanka, his method on the day worked. Despite losing Dilruwan Perera and Suranga Lakmal from the other end, he refused to slow down and cantered to a 59-ball half-century.

With little support expected from the last two batsmen, Dickwella continued to play his shots and gave the much-needed boost late in the day.

Niroshan Dickwella counter attacked and now has a half-century. New Zealand will certainly be frustrated with this innings. Sri Lanka have 250 on the board with two wickets in hand.

SEVEN DOWN - de Grandhomme gets Perera now. Sri Lanka have 223 on the board.

Sri Lanka past 200 ...

BIG WICKET: Five-wicket haul for Southee and he has dismissed Matthews now. Short ball down the leg side and like Chandimal, the former Sri Lanka captain top edges it to be caught. He was looking set to drivr Sri Lanka forward but now they are in danger of folding for a small total.

Sri Lanka 188 for 6

FOUR: Early success for New Zealand in the session and Southee gets his fourth. Short ball and the Sri Lanka captain - Chandimal - has top edged it to mid wicket.

Sri Lanka 168 for 5

The players are back for the final session. Crucial Sri Lanka continue to grind with the old ball not doing much. The new ball will be the threat late in the day and it's important the visitors preserve wickets. Should be an interesting session ...

TEA - DAY 1

Dimuth Karunaratne (79) and Angelo Matthews (70 not out) rebuilt the Sri Lankan innings but New Zealand continued to stay on top. Reduced to 9 for 3 and in danger of a being bundled out early, the Sri Lankan duo scored 133 for the fourth wicket to take the side to 167 for 4.

Matthews walked in with the team in serious danger of suffering an embarrassing collapse. Tim Southee had accounted for all three wickets and the ball moved just enough to keep everyone on their toes. Put in, Southee trapped Danushka Gunathilaka plumb in front and then had Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind with a beauty that pitched on off and moved away just a touch to take the outside edge. Kusal Mendis, keen on showing positive intent, flicked all his four deliveries to the on side. The fourth one, the most innocuous of all that was on the pads, was successfully sent straight to midwicket much to the frustration of an already nervous dressing room.

The plan was Matthews and Karunaratne was simple - they wanted to see off the first hour. And they did just that. More importantly, they didn't go searching for runs. Once Southee's spell was seen off, they weren't too keen to attack Colin de Grandhomme and Neil Wagner. Instead, all the energies were focussed on settling down and accessing the conditions. The stand moved forward beautifully as the sun came out to ease things a bit. The movement off the deck reduced as the ball got old and there were runs on offer as well.

Sri Lanka went to Lunch at 73 for 3 but the session belonged to the hosts. It is in the second session that both Matthews and Karunaratne really frustrated the bowlers. Southee seemed less and less effective while they were happy to absorb the short ball barrage from Wagner. Things, however, could have been particularly different if not for a Colin de Grandhomme no ball. Karunaratne had flicked a full toss straight to midwicket in the 20th over but the bowler had delivered a big no-ball. Sri Lanka had 57 on the board then and were still vulnerable.

As things panned out, the sun shone bright and so did the Sri Lankan duo from there on. New Zealand had to wait for 42 more overs for their next wicket and it was Wagner's effort that paid off. He kept banging it in and Karunaratne eventually gloved one down the leg side to fall caught behind. Dinesh Chandimal saw off the tricky half-hour before the break while Matthews ensured there weren't any hiccups.

UNFORTUNATE: What a poor way to fall. Short ball and he has gloved it down the leg side. Just one wicket this session so far New Zealand but they were desperate for this

Sri Lanka 142 for 4

Now Matthews gets to his half-century. The partnership is now past 120 and it looks the track has eased out. Not much happening.

Sri Lanka 137 for 3

FIFTY: The sun is out and the movement has reduced. Crcual Sri Lanka make this count. Edge but flies past second slip. 50 for Karunaraten as well off 101 balls.

Sri Lanka 95 for 3

The players are back and we are all set for the second session ...

LUNCH - DAY 1

Tim Southee made exceptional use of the conditions at the Basin Reserve to leave Sri Lanka at 73 for 3. Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews, however, have rebuild the innings after an early wobble with an unbeaten 64-run stand to help the visitors avoid an embarrassing collapse.

For a change, the grass at the track did just what was expected of it - produce movement. Kane Williamson, back after a successful series in the UAE against Pakistan, had the coin fall in his favour and opted to bowl first. From there on, it was all a Southee show as the visitors slipped to 9 for 3. The pacer struck in his first over - the second of the innings - trapping Danushka Gunathilaka in front. Dhananjaya de Silva too was undone by a peach - a delivery that left him just a bit to take the outside edge after pitching on off before BJ Watling completed the catch.

It was the third wicket that would frustrate the think-tank. Kusal Mendis flicked each of his four deliveries to the on side and eventually managed to find the mid-wicket fielder. An innocuous delivery on the pads was successfully placed straight to midwicket as New Zealand surged ahead within the first half hour of the day. Karunaratne and Mathews showed just why experience matters in such conditions as they played late and never went searching for runs.

It was a simple plan - just wait for the first hour to pass. Things, however, would have been slightly different as Karunaratne flicked a Colin de Grandhomme straight to midwicket in the 20th over. He survived after the bowler delivered a big no ball. The duo brought up their half-century soon after to restrict the damage just a touch.

50-run stand between Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews now ...

NO BALL: De Grandhomme can't keep his foot behind the line. Full toss and flicked to midwicket. Replays show it was a big no ball.

Sri Lanka 57 for 3

First hour done in the Test and Sri Lanka are 31 for 3 ...

POOR: Kusal Mendis find a spot in the stands. Or the grass banks. Don't go back in the dressing room. On the stumps and full from Southee. Whipped straight to short mid wicket. Third wicket for Southee now.

Sri Lanka 9 for 3

TWO: Southee is making the most of the movement that's available and early trouble for Sri Lanka. On off and swung just a tad away to take the outside edge. De Silva poked at that one with a straight bat. Couldn't have done much. It was a superb delivery.

Sri Lanka 7 for 2

EARLY WICKET: This was expected with all the green tinge on the track. Full and swinging in, nipped in as well. Gunathilaka planted his foot way too across and there was no way he would have connected. Trapped plumb in front.

Sri Lanka 5 for 1

Alright then, the players are out there, the Sri Lankan openers as well. Trent Boult to start with the ball ...

TOSS - New Zealand opt to bowl

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dimuth Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal(c), Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

ICYMI - New Zealand announced their playing XI, replacing spinner Will Sommerville with Neil Wagner - who has 26 wickets in six Tests at the Basin Reserve.

Playing XI: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult

Hello and welcome to the live blog of the first day of the first Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Wellington. If you were to judge New Zealand and Sri Lanka based on events transpiring in November and December, the words 'triumphant' and 'despair' would be a fair description for them respectively.

New Zealand won a series against Pakistan in UAE while Sri Lanka were humbled by England at home. It'll take a herculean effort from the visiting side to pull off a special series win. New Zealand, on the other hand, they get their home summer off to a flying start.