Kane Williamson and BJ Watling put New Zealand in a winning position against Sri Lanka

The pair put on 365 runs for the sixth wicket to see New Zealand declare on 524-5 late on day four with Williamson ending on 242 not out, his first Test double century, and Watling scoring 142 not out. Coming to the crease with New Zealand in trouble on 5-159 after lunch on Monday's third day of play, Williamson and Watling tore the Sri Lankan bowling attack apart to build on the home side's 24-run lead, and then continued their attack on Tuesday. The record partnership surpassed the 352 Watling and McCullum amassed against India last year, also at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, where the former made his previous best score of 124. Sri Lankan pair Rangana Herath and Nuwan Pradeep will feel particularly bitter about the record after both dropped Williamson on day three - missed chances that proved more costly than usual. After eight hours without taking a wicket, New Zealand captain Brendon McCallum put Sri Lanka out of their misery, declaring with the hosts leading by 390 runs and leaving the visitors a tricky one hour period to see out before the end of the Tuesday's play. The pressure was too much for Sri Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne (17) to handle as he holed out to spinner Mark Craig after spooning a simple catch to Rutherford at mid-off with minutes left in the final session. McCullum turned the screws in the final few overs with fielders crowding the bat but Kaushal Silva (20 not out) and Dhammika Prasad (one not out) held on to end the day on 45-1. The Sri Lankans will have a mountain to climb on the final day, needing 345 runs to level the two-match series at one apiece after the Kiwis beat them by 8 wickets in the first Test in Christchurch.