New Zealand swiped three Sri Lankan wickets shortly before rain arrived to peg back the tourists on a curtailed first day of the second Test in Hamilton.

At 259 for four in the 65th over, Sri Lanka were on top, but they added just five more runs for the loss of Milinda Siriwardana, Kithuruwan Vithanage and Rangana Herath to close on 264 for seven.

Seeking to clinch the two-match series after a convincing victory in Dunedin earned them a 1-0 lead, New Zealand found Sri Lanka more effective combatants this time, batting positively and aggressively and almost eking out a position of control on a pitch that was expected to favour the seamers.

– INTERVIEW: Shoaib Malik explains his Test retirement
– #360debate: Time Test cricket introduced relegation?
– INTERVIEW: Salman Butt on the road to redemption
– FOLLOW: LIVE cricket scores from around the world

A fifth-wicket partnership worth 138 between Siriwardana and captain Angelo Mathews, who remained undefeated on 63 at stumps, sustained the innings.

Two wickets in the same over from Trent Boult saw Siriwardana and Vithanage on their way late in the afternoon, however, with Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum taking assured catches.

Siriwardana had made a rapid 62, featuring five fours and three sixes.

Herath perished to a run out two balls into the 67th over, with gully fielder Kane Williamson throwing down the stumps. Rain soon followed, and the players were unable to resume.

Earlier in the day, Dimuth Karunaratne crawled to 12 and Kusal Mendis made a more breezy 31. The openers fell to Tim Southee, both caught behind by BJ Watling.

Mendis enjoyed a remarkable escape before his dismissal when a delivery from Doug Bracewell clipped his off stump but the bails remained in place.

Mitchell Santner and Watling combined to run out Udara Jayasundera for 26, and the busy New Zealand wicketkeeper was involved again in the fall of the fourth wicket, snagging an edge off Bracewell to remove Dinesh Chandimal for a snappy 47 from 56 balls.

The late rush of dismissals meant honours were effectively even heading to day two.