Tom Latham is all smiles after bringing up his maiden double century in Test cricket

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Sri Lanka lost three quick wickets after New Zealand opener Tom Latham struck a career-best 264 not out on the third day of the first Test in Wellington.

Starting off the day on 311/2, New Zealand lost Ross Taylor early on as he was brilliantly caught by Dimuth Karunaratne at short leg off the bowling of Lahiru Kumara for 50, which came off 88 balls and included five boundaries.

Latham and Henry Nicholls made up for the loss of Taylor with a 114-run partnership before Nicholls was dismissed by Dilruwan Perera for 50, which came off 101 deliveries and included six boundaries.

BJ Watling fell shortly after, but Latham and Colin de Grandhomme steadied things with a 73-run stand before De Grandhomme was sent packing by Dhananjaya de Silva for 49.

With New Zealand losing wickets at regular intervals once De Grandhomme was dismissed, the Black Caps were eventually bowled out for 578, which gave them a 296-run lead.

Latham was left stranded on 264, which came off 489 balls and included 21 boundaries and a six.

Kumara was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while De Silva and Dilruwan snapped up two wickets apiece. As for Suranga Lakmal, he chipped in with one.

Trailing by 296 runs, Sri Lanka made a disastrous start to their second innings as opener Danushka Gunathilaka was trapped lbw off the bowling of Trent Boult for three runs.

De Silva failed to trouble the scorers as he was clean bowled by Tim Southee, who also took out Karunaratne for 10.

With Sri Lanka struggling at 13/3, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews managed to amass an unbeaten seven-run partnership before stumps was called.

Mendis finished on five, while Mathews remained undefeated on two.

Southee was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Boult claimed one.

Sri Lanka ended day three on 20/3 and will continue batting on Tuesday at 11:00 local time or 22:00 GMT.