New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson fell nine runs short of a ton but his side were in the driving seat upon the completion of day two in the opening Test against Sri Lanka at Wellington.

Williamson fell for 91 in the final session of the day as the Kiwis reached a commanding 311-2 in their first innings. Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka had been bowled out for 282 runs in their first innings.

The New Zealand skipper was in sparkling form from the word go as he collected three boundaries on the trot to start off his innings.

The right-hander shared a 162-run stand for the second wicket alongside Tom Latham before throwing his wicket away while attempting to sweep Dhananjaya de Silva.

A seventh Test ton for Tom Latham.

Latham, meanwhile, brought up his seventh Test ton in the final session of the day and remained unbeaten on 121 as Sri Lanka’s bowlers were put through a grind.

In the morning session, Niroshan Dickwella was left stranded on 80 as Tim Southee picked up the final Sri Lanka wicket of Lahiru Kumara to complete a six-wicket haul in the innings.

BRIEF SCORES

Sri Lanka first innings: 282 all out (90 overs)

New Zealand first innings: 311-2 (84 overs)

Tom Latham: 121 (256)

Kane Williamson: 91 (93)