The Basin Reserve faithful had a treat yesterday, but not one the New Zealand team would have relished.
Kumar Sangakkara's virtuous demonstration of the batting arts took him within one double century of equalling the legendary Don Bradman as he pulled Sri Lanka right back into the second test.
By stumps, New Zealand, 22 without loss in their second innings, still trail by 113 overall and Sri Lanka will start today with tails up and reflecting on how much the balance of a match can change in a day.
There they were at 78 for five, in deep trouble when it began. Look at us now, they'll likely be thinking, after being dismissed for 356.
They'll look around the dressing room and no doubt collectively think - not for the first time - "thank goodness for Kumar".
New Zealand strove hard to get rid of the champion lefthander most of the day - then lined up to shake his hand as he left the field.
Sangakkara's 203 over almost even hours and 306 balls, dominated the Sri Lankan card. He failed twice in the first test at Christchurch, went away, thought about his game, spent hours receiving throw downs and yesterday was the evidence of attention to detail bringing a terrific reward.
Sri Lanka's captain Angelo Mathews had talked before the test of Sangakkara's determination to put things right after Christchurch. He simply got better and more impregnable as the day wore on.
Milestones were ticked off - a fourth hundred against New Zealand, then his 11th double and all done with superb timing, an eye for the gap and an ability to both keep the board ticking along and keep himself on strike as much as New Zealand tried to deny him.
The pitch was certainly better to bat on than the first day, and New Zealand worked hard but it was tough going.
The key for Sri Lanka was the morning session when Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal settled in.
New Zealand were disappointed with that period's work.
"We weren't as disciplined as we should have been," wicketkeeper BJ Watling said of those first two hours.
"We were pretty disappointed not to break that partnership but we knew it wasn't going to be easy and it wasn't just going to happen.
"And to be fair, Kumar played a hell of a knock."
After Chandimal departed, their stand worth 130, Sangakkara bossed the rest of the innings.
He recalled last night that in both his previous centuries against New Zealand in this country -- in 2006 -- he had marshalled the tail. He has previous for this and so clubbing the ball to the fielder on the boarding and eschewing a single to protect the late order was nothing new.
Drives rocketed off his bat, twice he cleared the third man fence with deliberate upper cuts for six and one ball from Doug Bracewell was clubbed dismissively over deep mid on.
But lest it be thought this was just another in the many wonderful days of batting Sangakkara has enjoyed in a fabulous career, the leap and punch upon bringing up another double century spoke of a man for whom the desire, and the delight at success, remains strong.
One catch was dropped, by captain Brendon McCullum, a straightforward call to deep mid off from Dhammika Prasad. That in itself wasn't costly but there were frustrations of balls falling to land, inches from outstretched hands.
However too many easy runs were available before Sangakkara began his shepherding operation. Once he was away, New Zealand were powerless to stop him.
True genius doesn't show up that often, and that's why yesterday was special.
"The guys enjoy watching world class cricketers and how they approach the game - maybe not so much today," Watling said.
New Zealand should relish good batting conditions today.
The question is whether they're good enough to make use of them with a series to be won over the next three days.
And they got an object lesson yesterday in how to go about their business.
- By David Leggat of the New Zealand Herald in Wellington
