Upul Tharanga guided Sri Lanka to a three-wicket win over New Zealand in the triangular one-day series on Friday.
The opener hit nine fours in a 109-ball 70 as Sri Lanka achieved a 193-run target with more than nine overs to spare in the day-night match in Dambulla.
Sri Lankan pacemen Lasith Malinga (3-35) and Angelo Mathews (3-36) played key roles in restricting New Zealand before Tharanga ensured the win.
PHOTO: AFP
New Zealand tasted early success when fast bowler Kyle Mills removed Tillakaratne Dilshan in his second over.
Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga steadied the innings with an 85-run stand for the second wicket. Sangakkara made 48 before falling to a superb catch by Martin Guptill in the covers off seamer Scott Styris.
Tharanga was caught in the deep by Bradley-John Watling off Mills, but not before putting his team in a strong position.
Thilan Samaraweera (36 not out) completed the win with a four off Mills.
Sri Lanka earlier did not allow New Zealand to build a big partnership, the highest stand being 52 for the fourth wicket between opener Watling (55) and Styris (24). McCullum contributed 36.
Malinga struck with the second delivery of the match when he had Guptill caught by Chamara Kapugedara.
Watling and Taylor (16) then put on 45 for the third wicket before Mathews bagged two wickets off three balls.
He trapped the New Zealand captain leg-before and then had Kane Williamson caught by Samaraweera in the slips.
Watling fell after, top-edging a pull off Mathews to be caught by wicket-keeper Sangakkara.
Malinga grabbed wickets off successive balls in his second spell, dismissing Gareth Hopkins (11) and Daryl Tuffey for nought.
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