Half-centuries for Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Jeetan Patel helped NZ to 283 for nine on day one of their tour match in SL.

Overall it was a patchy display from the Blacks Caps with six batsmen removed leg before wicket after captain Daniel Vettori won the toss against a Sri Lanka Development XI and opted to bat first at the NCC ground in Colombo.

It was a horror start to the innings as opener Tim McIntosh was dismissed for a duck with the fourth ball of the day, followed five overs later by Daniel Flynn (five).

Guptill and Taylor consolidated the innings with a partnership of 89 for the third wicket, Guptill scoring a valuable 54.

Craig Cumming came and went for just two - the fourth consecutive lbw dismissal - and Brendon McCullum stayed briefly for 16, while Taylor continued on to a well-compiled 75.

Jacob Oram also picked up overdue runs, and after seeing Vettori depart for one, Oram (42) and Jeetan Patel combined for 61 runs for the eighth wicket.

Patel looked in good touch in reaching only his third first-class half-century, finishing the day unbeaten on 68, with Iain O'Brien on nine not out.

Leg break bowler Seekkuge Prasanna was the best of the Sri Lankan XI with figures of three for 66, while Test paceman Dhamika Prasad picked up two for 43.