New Zealand overcame a nervy chase to scamper to a thrilling one-wicket win in their Champions Trophy opener in Cardiff on Sunday.
Defending a meagre 138 runs, paceman Lasith Malinga (4-34) and Shaminda Eranga (2-45) shared six wickets between them to give Sri Lanka some hopes, but New Zealand somehow managed to keep their composure to reach 139-9 in 36.3 overs.
When Thisara Perera had Kyle Mills run out with a direct hit with New Zealand five runs away from win, it looked like Sri Lanka were going to get a dramatic win but they were thwarted by last wicket pair Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan.
Nathan McCullum scored an invaluable 32 off 42 balls despite Sri Lanka made some regular breakthroughs to leave the Kiwis struggling throughout their chase.
Earlier New Zealand bowlers also enjoyed some success with left-arm seamer McClenaghan showing the way for the side grabbing 4-43.
Veteran Kumar Sangakkara played a lone hand for the Islanders with 68, his 75th one-day half-century, but five of the other six top-order batsmen failed to reach double figures as the team folded in 37.5 overs.
Sri Lanka never recovered after losing Kusal Perera off the first ball of the match when New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum flew to his left at second slip to pick up a brilliant catch off Kyle Mills.
Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 20 off 18 balls when he was bowled by McClenaghan to make Sri Lanka 27-2.
It soon became 33-3 as veteran Daniel Vettori, playing his first one-dayer since the World Cup semi-final against the same opponents in Colombo two years ago, struck with his fourth delivery.
A slower, flighted ball caught star batsman Mahela Jayawardene on the back foot and umpire Bruce Oxenford upheld Vettori’s loud appeal for leg-before.
Mills claimed another wicket in the ninth over when Dinesh Chandimal, attempting a huge drive outside the off-stump, edged an easy catch to wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi.
Skipper Angelo Mathews helped Sangakkara carry the total from 34-4 to 65 when he was bowled round his legs by McClenaghan for nine in the 21st over.
There was no respite for the Sri Lankans as Lahiru Thirimanne was run out in the 27th over when Sangakkara turned his back on a sharp single after initially calling the non-striker for a single.
Thisara Perera, who was dropped before he had scored and was then repreived by a television review after being given out leg-before, put on 36 for the seventh wicket with Sangakkara.
-With New Age input
