COLOMBO: Sri Lanka made a steady start in the second Test against New Zealand, reaching 62-1 by lunch on the opening day at the Sinhalese Sports Club here on Wednesday.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was unbeaten on 26 and skipper Kumar Sangakkara was on 16 after opener Tharanga Paranavitana became New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori's 299th Test victim.

Vettori had the left-hander caught at first slip by Ross Taylor for 19 off his second delivery and now needs just one more wicket to become the eighth player to achieve the double of 3,000 runs and 300 wickets.

Sri Lanka elected to take first strike on a firm wicket that Vettori said "looked like a road" at the toss, after the start was delayed by 30 minutes due to a wet outfield caused by early morning rain.

Sri Lanka made three changes from the team that won the first Test in Galle by 202 runs, leaving out all-rounder Angelo Mathews, spinner Ajantha Mendis and seamer Nuwan Kulasekara.

They were replaced by batsman Chamara Kapugedera, seamer Dammika Prasad and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

The Kiwis kept the same team that lost in Galle.