After Kumar Sangakkara took apart their attack to make a masterful 203 in the first innings, New Zealand are wary the Sri Lankan great could do it again on the final day of the second Test and lead the tourists to victory.

The visitors head into the last day needing another 345 runs to win the Test and square the series after Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum declared at 524-5 following a record-breaking stand from Kane Williamson and BJ Watling which wrested back control for the home side.

Williamson made a career-best unbeaten 242 and Watling also produced his highest Test innings of 142 as they put on 365 for the sixth wicket before McCullum pulled the plug.

Set 390 to win on a docile Basin Reserve pitch, Sri Lanka lost opener Dimuth Karunaratne before the close thanks to his ill-discipline, but cannot expect the same favours from the 37-year-old Sangakkara who became the fastest player to 12,000 runs in this Test.

“They showed in the first innings they were more than comfortable on that surface.

“Anyone with Kumar Sangakkara in their team can have confidence,” said Williamson.

Sangakkara’s knock, with his second hundred coming from just 110 balls, helped Sri Lanka to 356 and a 135-run lead, but after reducing the hosts to effectively 24-5 in their second innings, encountered a defiant Williamson and Watling.

“It’s obviously still a very good batting surface. If we can get a couple early that will put us in a very strong position, but I think patience is key.

“If we bowl in the right areas like we know we can, we can create opportunities,” said Williamson.

Tim Southee and Trent Boult both regularly beat the bat in a testing spell before stumps and will fancy themselves against nightwatchman Dhammika Prasad and the struggling Kaushal Silva on the last day.