Mahela Jayawardene top-scored for the second time in three innings, stroking a fluent 94 off 82 balls. Kumar Sangakkara hit a smooth 76 from 83, and Tillakaratne Dilshan made 44 from 57. All three batsmen benefited from good fortune. Dilshan and Jayawardene were caught down the leg side, but were not given out, while Sangakkara was dropped attempting a sweep.

Sri Lanka were 180 for 2 after 33 overs, but New Zealand's fightback with the ball was all the more remarkable because their best bowler on the day could not complete his quota. Adam Milne dismissed Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews off consecutive balls in the 34th over to herald his team's resurgence, but could only bowl one more over before a side-strain forced him out of the attack. Three of his overs went unused, though Milne did field late in the innings.

(cricinfo)