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Colombo: New Zealand put a small part of their tour Lankan behind them by clinching an inspirational three-run win over Sri Lanka in the first of two Twenty20s at the R Premadasa Stadium. With it a fresh look to New Zealand's Twenty20 unit, but it was the pair of Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori who ultimately gave the tourists something to smile about.
Jacob Oram has taken a hat-trick in this game, the second in Twenty20s after Brett Lee. Oram had got rid of Mathews off the last ball of the 17th over, before taking wickets off the first two balls of the final over.
With the openers dismissed early, the pressure was on Taylor, who carried the team almost single-handedly with a busy innings until the 18th over after which, Lasith Malinga returned to stifle the tail.
A total of 141 appeared under-par when Tillakaratne Dilshan blazed to 57 off 28 balls, but Vettori reminded everyone of his worth in Twenty20s with a niggardly spell and, aided by some dedicated fielding, New Zealand hauled themselves back in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Earlier, Ross Taylor top-scored for New Zealand with a quick-fire 60 on Wednesday to lift the Black Caps to a modest 141-8 in the first Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka.
The Kiwis started poorly losing two wickets for 26 runs after their captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat first at R Premadasa Stadium.
Brendon McCullum (9) was the first to go, run out by Nuwan Kulasekara, who then had his partner Jesse Ryder out to a well judged catch by Malinga Bandara.
Taylor combined with Martin Guptill for 53 off 41 balls before Guptill was out for 29 runs, caught by Chamara Kapugedera off spinner Bandara.
Taylor's score, his third Twenty20 half-century, came off 45 balls and included five fours and a six. He was caught by Kulasekera off seamer Anjelo Mathews.
Medium pacer Lasith Malinga was the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets in the last over to finish with figures of 2-21.
Kiwis skipper Vettori is also the Man of the Match.
Brief Score:
New Zealand: 141 for 8 (Taylor 60, Malinga 2-21)
Sri Lanka: 137 for 9 (Dilshan 57, Oram 3-32)
Result: New Zealand by three runs
Man of the match: Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)
