Kiwis set tough target

The captain's patient and expertly executed 115 not out complemented Upul Tharanga's run-a-ball 73 at the top of the order.

Jayawardene backed himself to use the 50 overs and - after one significant piece of fortune on 70 when Shane Bond ought to have taken a routine outfield catch off Jeetan Patel but instead parried a sweep for six - he was fully vindicated.

The first half of Jayawardene's innings was characterised by clever placement for ones and twos, and his second 50 came from just 28 balls as he launched into trademark hitting to all parts

Tharanga's runs had first put Sri Lanka on course for a competitive total after they won the toss on a pacy pitch only to lose Sanath Jayasuriya in the third over. James Franklin was rewarded with the first breakthrough in his second over and another success in his second spell 54 runs later.

Jayasuriya was being targeted by Bond before the match but it was the left-armer who got the danger man, bowled aiming across a full ball. Tharanga might have gone already for just one run had Ross Taylor's throw from cover hit one stump as Jayasuriya pushed for a single to get off the mark.

The Kiwis were unable to part Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara until the number three mistimed a catch low to Stephen Fleming at mid-on. Tharanga was joined by Jayawardene, who was happy to allow the opener to continue to provide the momentum in a half-century which contained eight boundaries.

When Daniel Vettori was introduced Tharanga upped the ante to take 12 off the slow left-armer's second over and New Zealand were not helping themselves with some increasingly shoddy work in the field.

But Vettori got his revenge when Tharanga was bowled round his legs sweeping, and the return of Bond did for Chamara Silva who was unfortunate to be given out lbw when he appeared to get a significant inside edge.

Jayawardene remained unflustered and his confidence proved well-placed as he and Tillekeratne Dilshan put on 81 in 11 overs, 102 coming from the last 10 as Jayawardene took charge to add three sixes to his 10 fours.