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Dunedin: Martin Guptill rebounded from a horror Australian series with his third century to guide New Zealand to a strong position on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka Thursday.
On a Dunedin pitch said to be ripe for seam bowlers, New Zealand responded to losing the toss by amassing 409 for eight.
Opener Guptill contributed 156 before he fell just before stumps, the ever-reliable Kane Williamson made 88 and Brendon McCullum 75 as New Zealand exposed the rawness of the Sri Lanka line-up.
The green wicket suggested bowlers would rule but when Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and made New Zealand bat he was let down by his attack.
New Zealand were 229 for two at tea before Sri Lanka fought back in the final session when they took six wickets, but for an expensive 180 runs.
There were only seven maiden overs bowled and New Zealand cracked 57 fours, of which Guptill contributed 21.
His third century came 41 innings and four years after he last posted three figures against Zimbabwe.
Guptill sharing a 173-run partnership with Williamson, a New Zealand record for the second wicket against Sri Lanka, then adding 89 with McCullum.
He was eventually undone six overs from stumps when Mathews swung the ball away from Guptill who feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.
Williamson fell on the last ball before tea, lashing out at a rough delivery from Nuwan Pradeep to be caught in slips by Dimuth Karunaratne reaching high above his head. He left the ground requiring only eight more runs to become the fifth player to reach 1,000 runs in 2015.
McCullum, who like Guptill failed to fire in Australia, also found the Sri Lankan attack more to his liking. He was at his belligerent best as he raced from 35 to 50 with a six, two fours and a single in successive deliveries from Chameera. He reached 75 in 57 balls and belted 13 fours and a six before Mathews turned to Milinda Siriwardana, his seventh bowler for the day.
For Sri Lanka, Suranga Lakmal took two for 69 while Nuwan Pradeep and 23-year-old Dushmantha Chameera, both finished with two for 101.
Brief scores
New Zealand - 409 for 8 (Guptil 156, Williamson 88, McCullum 75)
