New Zealand extracted two key Sri Lankan batsmen early on the third day as the tourists battled to stay afloat in the first Test at Hagley Oval.

The world class Kumar Sangakkara was back in the sheds for one, completing a miserable Test as Sri Lanka ploughed to lunch at 2-131.

They need a further 172 to make the Black Caps bat again, having been dismissed for 138 on Saturday and asked to follow on with a 303-run deficit.

Resuming at 0-49, the tourists lost opener Kaushal Silva for his overnight score of 33, caught behind off the last ball of the day’s first over bowled by Tim Southee (1-19).

Sangakkara’s uncomfortable 16-ball knock ended in identical manner to his first innings of six when he was caught behind trying to drive Trent Boult (1-37).

It handed wicketkeeper BJ Watling a second catch for the morning and left Sri Lanka 2-94.

Order was restored in an unbroken 90-minute stand for the third wicket between a watchful Lahiru Thirimanne (14) and opener Dimuth Karunaratne (77), who advanced from his overnight 49, patiently adding 28 off 88 balls in untroubled fashion.

Thirimanne was given out lbw off spinner Mark Craig soon before lunch but the decision was overturned on review.

Sangakkara’s cheap dismissal marked the end of a monumental run-scoring year for the 37-year-old.

His 2868 runs is a world record for a calendar year across all international formats.

This month he went past Australian great Ricky Ponting’s mark for Tests, one-day internationals and Twenty20s of 2833 runs in 2005.

Sangakkara and Ponting occupy four of the top-five spots on the all-time list.

MOST PROLIFIC CALENDAR YEAR

2868 – Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, 2014)

2833 – Ricky Ponting (Australia, 2005)

2657 – Ponting (2003)

2626 – Rahul Dravid (India, 1999)

2609 – Sangakkara (2006)