By Chris Barclay of NZPA

Colombo, Aug 26 NZPA - New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has become only the eighth player to complete the test cricket double of 300 wickets and 3000 runs by making two breakthroughs on the opening day of the second cricket test against Sri Lanka today.

Vettori, playing his 94th test, secured the two wickets he required at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground when dismissing struggling opener Tharanga Paranavitana and opposing skipper Kumar Sangakkara.

He needed just two balls to claim his first wicket when Paranavitana, on 19, edged to Ross Taylor's hands at first slip in the 11th over of the morning.

However, the decisive wicket was a fair time coming, Vettori having to wait until his 16th over before Sangakkara hit across the line to Jacob Oram at deep mid wicket, two deliveries after he brought up his half century with a ninth boundary during the session to tea.

Vettori is the second New Zealander to reach the milestone following Sir Richard Hadlee.

"It's the proudest achievement of my career," Vettori said.

"I suppose for a spin bowler coming from New Zealand it's pleasing because we don't often play on wickets that suit spin bowling.

"A lot of the times I probably haven't played a major role," said Vettori, who has still taken five wickets in an innings 18 times and ten for the match on three occasions.

By dismissing Thilan Samaraweera during Sri Lanka's second innings at Galle last week, Vettori also became the game's most prolific left arm slow bowler, eclipsing the 297-wicket haul of England's Derek Underwood.

Vettori made his debut at Wellington against England on Waitangi Day 1997 as New Zealand's youngest ever test player at age 18.

Hadlee, at one time the world's leading test wicket taker, was subsequently followed to the 300/3000 double by Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Shane Warne, Shaun Pollock and most recently Chaminda Vaas.

Vettori's first test wicket was former England captain Nasser Hussain, caught by Bryan Young while his career highlights include a match analysis of 12 for 149 against Australia at Eden Park in March 2000.

After struggling to make an impact with the bat early in his career Vettori is now a genuine allrounder having scored three hundreds and 20 half centuries.

Vettori has amassed 3329 runs at 28.69 and despite typically batting at No 8 he has proved New Zealand's most reliable batsman -- this year alone he averages 54.83.

"Five or six years ago I was pretty embarrassed by my test batting record," said Vettori, who topped New Zealand's first test batting aggregates with 109.

"It was something I wanted to rectify and I've worked really hard on it. The results have probably exceeded my expectations."