Conway appeared primed for a big score at the Basin Reserve, stroking the tourists all around his homeground as he eased to 78 from 108 balls.
And although he was left frustrating after falling late in the day, Conway’s knock helped the Black Caps make an encouraging start to their quest for a third straight test win.
Today brought slightly less excitement than the climactic stages of the second match in that mini-streak, the Wellington weather providing quite a comedown from Kane Williamson’s final-ball heroics at Hagley Oval on Monday.
It began with rain, featured what Conway called the strongest wind he had experienced at the Basin, and ended through bad light after the Black Caps had reached 155-2 from 48 overs. The opener’s shot-making, at least, offered some bright rays amid all the gloom.
After a three-hour delay, Conway and Latham started a test with bat in hand for the first time at home this summer, with Doug Bracewell replacing the injured Neil Wagner in New Zealand’s sole change.
Sri Lanka’s toss win would have left them hopeful of exploiting another green seamer but, in the first session especially, their bowlers battled to find a good length while being buffeted by the wind.
Conway, in turn, feasted on anything short or full, unleashing pulls and drives that would have widened the eyes of a small contingent of fans braving the bad conditions.
He quickly registered his eighth test half-century — the last 40 of those runs coming from 43 balls — seizing any advantage Sri Lanka must have imagined when they inserted their hosts.
Latham was less fluid at the other end, offering the first chance of the innings with an ill-judged attempt at a quick single and left lucky the fielder was unable to collect cleanly. And his attempts to execute the pull didn’t work out quite as well as his partner’s, holing out to deep square for 21.
Unperturbed, Conway continued to drive well, collecting 12 boundaries in the session as he headed to tea unbeaten on 73, with New Zealand on 109-1.
The 31-year-old initially looked to be picking up where he left off but, one flicked four later, he was caught by the bowler for the second time in as many innings. Unlike in Christchurch, where Conway assumed full blame, on this occasion he was undone by a good catch from Dhananjaya de Silva, diving low to his right.
Fortunately for Henry Nicholls, that piece of sharp fielding didn’t prove contagious, his poor attempt to cut dropped by debutant wicketkeeper Nishan Madushka.
Nicholls and Kane Williamson — two batsmen at differing ends of the form spectrum — will resume tomorrow morning with a stand of 37, weather permitting.