Stephen Fleming hit his first Test double century on Saturday as sloppy Sri Lankan fielding helped New Zealand reach an intimidating 515 declared on the second day of the first Test.

Fast bowler Darryl Tuffey then removed Sri Lanka opener Marvan Atapattu for a duck to leave the home side on four for one when bad light curtailed play.

Fleming, dropped twice in stifling conditions, struck 28 boundaries and one six for his unbeaten 274, the second-highest Test score by a New Zealander after Martin Crowe's 299.

The lanky left-hander broke into a huge smile and was hugged by team mate Scott Styris after reaching 200 with a boundary. His previous highest score, 174 not out, was also against Sri Lanka in 1997-98.

Skipper Fleming, who averages more than 76 against Sri Lanka in Tests, was well supported by Styris, who hit two sixes and five fours in his 63 before being caught by Chaminda Vaas off spinner Kumar Dharmasena to give the home side a wicket just before the interval. The pair put on 157.

Dharmasena earlier removed Mathew Sinclair on 17, caught by Kumar Sangakkara, after the batsman had been given a life when he was dropped by wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana on 10.

Styris was also dropped twice, on 16 and 57, while Fleming escaped on 121 and 140, with Mahela Jayawardene spilling all four chances in the slips and at gully.

Sri Lanka's bowling improved towards the end of the day, as spinner Muttiah Muralitharan finally began to live up to his reputation, taking Jacob Oram for 33, caught by Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

Moments later he dismissed Robbie Hart for nine as Jayawardene finally held a catch.

New Zealand, ranked third in the world, are seeking their first series win in Sri Lanka for two decades. The second and final Test starts on May 3 in Kandy.

New Zealand (1st innings): (overnight 207-2)

M.Richardson b Vaas 85

M Horne c Dharmasena b Nissanka 4

S.Fleming not out 274

M.Sinclair c Sangakkara b Dharmasena 17

S.Styris c Vaas b Dharmasena 63

J.Oram c Lokuarachchi b Muralitharan 33

R.Hart c Jayawardena b Muralitharan 9

D.Vettori lbw Dharmasena 7

P.Wiseman not out 16.

Extras (w-1 nb-1 lb-4 b-1) 7

Total (for seven wickets declared, 174.5 overs) 515

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-192, 3-235, 4-392, 5-471, 6-486, 7-499.

Did not bat: D.Tuffey, S.Bond.

Bowling: Vaas 29-8-73-1, Nissanka 23-9-53-1, Dharmasena 40-7-132-3, Muralitharan 58.5-16-140-2 (nb-1 w-1), Lokuarachchi 18-2-83-0, Jayasuriya 6-0-29-0.

Sri Lanka (1st innings):

M.Atapattu lbw Tuffey 0

S.Jayasuriya not out 2

C.Vaas not out 2.

Extras: 0

Total (for one wicket, 1.4 overs): 4

Fall of wickets: 0-1

To bat: K.Sangakkara, H.Tillakaratne, M.Jayawardena, R.Kaluwitharana, K.Lokuarachchi, M.Muralitharan, P.Nissanka, K.Dharmasena.

Bowling: Tuffey 1-0-1-1, Bond 0.4-0-3-0.