A triple strike from recalled paceman Doug Bracewell has helped New Zealand get back into the second Test against Sri Lanka after the hosts were dismissed for 221.

Sri Lanka were 5-79 at stumps on the first day with Kumar Sangakkara, who became just the fifth batsman to pass 12,000 runs in Tests, unbeaten on 33.

Bracewell, called into the side to replace left-armer Neil Wagner, repaid the selectors’ faith to claim wickets in successive overs before striking in the final over of the day to snare Prasanna Jayawardene.

Trent Boult had earlier claimed New Zealand’s first wicket of 2015 by removing Christchurch century-maker Dimuth Karunaratne cheaply and Tim Southee, who overcame an ankle injury to play in the Test, nicked out captain Angelo Mathews.

Bracewell, playing his first Test since 2013, finished the day with figures of 3-23.

After winning the toss and bowling, Sri Lanka failed to make the most of the green-tinged Basin Reserve pitch in the session before lunch.

New Zealand lost just two wickets before the break but after the resumption Sri Lankan paceman Nuwan Pradeep, recalled to the side after missing their eight-wicket defeat in the first Test, claimed career-best Test figures of 4-63 as the home side lost their last eight wickets for just 80 runs.

Only Kane Williamson showed any prolonged resistance, hitting 69 to register his 15th Test fifty.

The hosts had got to 2-141 after lunch before the rot set in with the batsmen largely the authors of their own demise, playing loose shots outside their off-stump.

Pradeep, who had earlier removed Hamish Rutherford, got Ross Taylor (35) to edge a 140km/h ball onto his leg stump to kickstart the tourists’ revival.

Captain Brendon McCullum, who received the keys to the city in the lunch interval in reception of his record-breaking 302 against India at the same ground last year, lasted just two balls before falling for his first duck since becoming skipper.

Williamson went soon after, becoming the third New Zealander to drag a ball onto his stumps as the home side lost five wickets in the session after lunch.

Pradeep claimed his fourth wicket and only a last wicket stand of 26 between Bracewell and Boult took them past 200.

New Zealand pace spearhead Tim Southee passed a fitness test on an injured ankle before play while Sri Lanka made three changes from the side comprehensively beaten at Hagley Oval.