Tim Southee nabbed two wickets late in the first session as New Zealand took further control of the second test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo today.

The home side began day three at 43-3 in reply to New Zealand's first-innings total of 412 and edged past 100 before Southee struck twice in quick time.

Southee dislodged opener Tharanga Paranavitana for 40 when he was caught behind by Kruger van Wyk. Angelo Mathews was next to go for 47 as Martin Guptill produced a stunning one-handed catch in the slips to give Southee his fourth scalp of the innings.

Jeetan Patel looked to have Prasanna Jayawardene stumped following some sharp work from van Wyk, but despite countless replays the third umpire couldn't see enough evidence to send the Sri Lanka No 7 on his way and he was given not out.

Sri Lanka closed the session at 107-5 with Thilan Samaraweera and Jayawardene unbeaten at the crease on zero and four respectively.

The home side need another 106 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Southee, who has been in good form recently after he took 4-46 in the first innings of the first test last week, went to lunch with figures of 4-35 next to his name.

Scoreboard
Scoreboard at lunch on day three of the second cricket test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka being played at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo today:
New Zealand
First innings 412
Sri Lanka
First innings (overnight: 43-3)
T Paranavitana c van Wyk b Southee 40
T Dilshan b Southee 5
K Sangakkara c Boult b Southee 0
M Jayawardene c Williamson b Boult 4
A Mathews c Guptill b Southee 47
T Samaraweera not out 0
P Jayawardene not out 4
Extras (3lb, 1w, 3nb) 7
Total (for 5 wickets, 43.0 overs) 107
Fall: 1-7 (Dilshan), 2-7 (Sangakkara), 3-12 (Jayawardene), 4-102 (Paranavitana), 5-103 (Mathews)
Bowling: T Southee 14-2-35-4 (1nb), T Boult 13-4-26-1 (1w, 2nb), J Patel 9-3-16-0, T Astle 2-0-6-0, D Bracewell 5-0-21-0

- APNZ