One-day international, Napier: Sri Lanka 286-3 bt New Zealand 285 by seven wickets
Sanath Jayasuriya's brilliant 111 helped Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first one-dayer.
Youngster Ross Taylor (128no) made his maiden hundred for the Kiwis and Nathan Astle hit 83 as they totalled 285-8.
But that was inadequate as openers Jayasuriya, who hit five sixes in his 82-ball 111, and Upul Tharanga (68 off 73 balls) put on 201 in only 144 balls.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene (34no) and Kumar Sangakkara (36) then helped seal victory with exactly 10 overs to spare.
"I've been in a few run chases like that," said Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene.
"When Sanath's in that mood he can massacre an attack. When he's going it's really tough for the bowlers and he's a genuine match-winner.
"The comeback was very nice to see, it showed a lot of character by the bowlers and to cap it off with Sanath the way he batted was absolutely brilliant to watch."
Taylor, playing only his third one-day international, thrashed four sixes of his own and 12 boundaries in a fine 133-ball innings.
The 22-year-old's final six sailed out of the ground and into a neighbouring property, forcing the umpires to call for a new ball, though he had to battle cramp as he struggled through to end of the innings and needed to be rehydrated in hospital after his exhausting knock.
"He's fulfilled some of the potential people think he does have and we've seen how he can play on a quality wicket, so hopefully that's the start of a lot of good innings for New Zealand," said spinner Daniel Vettori.
Astle was no slouch either and hit two sixes during a stand of 151 with Taylor for the second wicket before he was run out by a deflection at the non-striker's end.
It signalled a New Zealand slump from 169-1 to 229-5 and only Taylor kept the innings on course.
Chaminda Vaas was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, taking 3-50 from 10 overs while off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took 1-48.
Jayasuriya made a mockery of the target with his 23rd one-day hundred off 78 balls as he and Tharanga savaged the Kiwi attack.
They took full advantage of McLean Park's short boundaries and a bowling attack weakened by the absence of Shane Bond and Kyle Mills.
Michael Mason conceded 60 runs from six overs and Mark Gillespie 64 from nine.
James Franklin leaked 69 runs from 10 overs but claimed the wickets of Jayasuriya and Tharanga with successive balls in the 24th over.
Sanath Jayasuriya's brilliant 111 helped Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first one-dayer.
Youngster Ross Taylor (128no) made his maiden hundred for the Kiwis and Nathan Astle hit 83 as they totalled 285-8.
But that was inadequate as openers Jayasuriya, who hit five sixes in his 82-ball 111, and Upul Tharanga (68 off 73 balls) put on 201 in only 144 balls.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene (34no) and Kumar Sangakkara (36) then helped seal victory with exactly 10 overs to spare.
"I've been in a few run chases like that," said Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene.
"When Sanath's in that mood he can massacre an attack. When he's going it's really tough for the bowlers and he's a genuine match-winner.
"The comeback was very nice to see, it showed a lot of character by the bowlers and to cap it off with Sanath the way he batted was absolutely brilliant to watch."
Taylor, playing only his third one-day international, thrashed four sixes of his own and 12 boundaries in a fine 133-ball innings.
The 22-year-old's final six sailed out of the ground and into a neighbouring property, forcing the umpires to call for a new ball, though he had to battle cramp as he struggled through to end of the innings and needed to be rehydrated in hospital after his exhausting knock.
"He's fulfilled some of the potential people think he does have and we've seen how he can play on a quality wicket, so hopefully that's the start of a lot of good innings for New Zealand," said spinner Daniel Vettori.
Astle was no slouch either and hit two sixes during a stand of 151 with Taylor for the second wicket before he was run out by a deflection at the non-striker's end.
It signalled a New Zealand slump from 169-1 to 229-5 and only Taylor kept the innings on course.
Chaminda Vaas was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, taking 3-50 from 10 overs while off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took 1-48.
Jayasuriya made a mockery of the target with his 23rd one-day hundred off 78 balls as he and Tharanga savaged the Kiwi attack.
They took full advantage of McLean Park's short boundaries and a bowling attack weakened by the absence of Shane Bond and Kyle Mills.
Michael Mason conceded 60 runs from six overs and Mark Gillespie 64 from nine.
James Franklin leaked 69 runs from 10 overs but claimed the wickets of Jayasuriya and Tharanga with successive balls in the 24th over.
