New Zealand was flailing at 2-22 and trailing by 580 on Friday against a dominant Sri Lankan batting attack that saw middle-order maestro Kamindu Mendis reach 1000 runs from just eight Test appearances.
Sri Lanka declared at 5-602 shortly before stumps on day two in Galle after a 200-run partnership between Kamindu and Kusal Mendis – the third century-plus stand of the innings.
The tourists then lost their openers inside nine overs, with Tom Latham caught on the fifth ball of the innings for two and Devon Conway dismissed for nine.
Kane Williamson (six) and Ajaz Patel (nought) will resume on Saturday.
Kamindu reached the 1000-run milestone in 13 innings played since his debut at the same ground two years ago, equalling the record of Australian great Don Bradman.
Only two others – England’s Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes of the West Indies – have surpassed him, both reaching the landmark in 12 innings.
For New Zealand, it was a day of much smaller numbers. They claimed only two wickets in the 73.4 overs they bowled on day two, with Glenn Phillips the only bowler to make breakthroughs. Towards the end of the day, they had 14 overs to face, and inside those, Tom Latham was out for 2, and Devon Conway dismissed - via a controversial third-umpire's decision - for 9. They finished at 22 for 2, with hope getting slimmer by the over that they can meaningfully compete in this match. The pitch seemed to be taking substantial turn towards the end of the day, while Sri Lanka operated with the new ball at least.
Kamindu's progress from 51 overnight was largely in the morning session, in which he moved to 93. He scored heavily square of the wicket, as usual, rarely going several balls without finding a scoring shot. Through this period Phillips always seemed the likeliest bowler to get a wicket, thanks in part to the work he was putting on the ball.
In fact, Phillips would get two, both off top edges as Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva attempted sweep shots. Mathews had added only ten to his overnight 78, before de Silva made 44 in Kamindu's company.
But after lunch, Sri Lanka had it almost entirely their way. Kamindu moved unfussily to a fifth Test hundred and celebrated with trademark reserve. Kusal started slowly as New Zealand put together some tight spells after lunch - Mitchell Santner bowling with particular control - before he too began to find run-scoring easier, particularly thanks to his strong sweep shot. He made only 24 off his first 71 balls, with only one four on his ledger.
But with batting to come, and Sri Lanka's total growing gigantic now, he began to attack, going after Phillips first, as he got to his fifty in an over that he struck two fours and a six in, before settling into a more positive outlook in general. Twice he launched Ajaz Patel, who went wicketless in the innings and conceded 135, over deep midwicket for six. Kamindu also launched Ajaz down the ground for a six.
The pair batted right through the middle session, going to tea at 135 and 70. The evening was about notching milestones - Kamindu making the second 150 of his career, before Kusal strode to his century, off 148 balls in the end. After that it was about letting Kamindu get to 178, so he could surpass the 1000-run career tally. Captain de Silva declared soon as Kamindu had launched Ravindra down the ground for the six that got him there.
New Zealand faced a testing spell from Asitha Fernando first up, as the bowler got substantial late swing in to the left-handed openers. One of these balls moved back in to Latham in the first over, took his edge and flew to gully, where Pathum Nissanka gobbled it up.
The dismissal of the struggling Conway in the ninth over of the innings was not as straightforward. Conway had defended at a turning ball from Prabath Jayasuriya, with the bowler and wicketkeeper appealing immediately - seemingly for the lbw. Umpire Nitin Menon gave Conway out, but when the batter reviewed, there was an obvious outside edge, before the ball struck thigh pad.
However, after it struck pad, the ball had flown to de Silva at slip, who seemingly took a low catch. The replays did not conclusively show that he had his fingers under that ball, though it was close. The third umpire ruled it out, however, much to Conway's displeasure.
Such was the amount of turn Sri Lanka's spinners were generating towards the end of the day, even Kane Williamson struggled. He was 6 off 42 at stumps, alongside nightwatchman Ajaz.