Hamish Marshall's hundred was the second of his Test career

Hamish Marshall struck an unbeaten 133 to give New Zealand the upper hand on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Napier.

Marshall hit two sixes and 17 fours as the Kiwis reached 267-3 before bad light ended play six over early.

He shared a second wicket stand of 107 with twin brother James, who made 52.

Nathan Astle was 37 not out at the close, while Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and Upul Chandana claimed a wicket each for the tourists.

After recently losing 2-0 to Australia, it was a much better day for New Zealand against opponents who went into the game with only a single day of match practice behind them on the tour.

Stephen Fleming chose to bat after winning the toss and the home side lost only one wicket during the morning session when Craig Cumming was lbw to left-armour Vaas for 12.

James Marshall was dropped on 10 and he settled for occupying the crease while his sibling, the more experienced of the two in international cricket, adopted a more positive approach.

There was an unusual incident early in proceedings as James asked umpire Darrell Hair to take off his tie because he could not see the ball clearly when Malinga was bowling because of his low-arm delivery.

Hamish was first to his half century off 95 balls and they took the score to 142 before James, who had batted for three hours and 20 minutes, edged a ball from leg-spinner Chandana and Thilan Samaraweera made no mistake at slip.

I was disappointed to get out the way I did - it was a pretty tired shot James Marshall

His dismissal brought Fleming to the middle, but after an unhappy series against Australia in which he averaged only 17, the New Zealand skipper again looked below his best.

He made 16 before playing on to Malinga, but Astle kept Marshall company to the close as they shared an unbroken partnership of 80.

Marshall survived a return chance to Malinga on 92 and made the most of the escape to bring up his second Test century off 172 balls.

The sides will play two Tests in the series which was re-arranged after Sri Lanka's original tour was scrapped last December following the Asian tsunami.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (Capt), Craig Cumming, James Marshall, Hamish Marshall, Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Brendon McCullum, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Paul Wiseman, Chris Martin.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath.

Umpires: Darrell Hair (Australia), Steve Bucknor (West Indies).