Tharanga helps Sri Lanka beat New Zealand in tri-series one-dayer

Upul Tharanga guided Sri Lanka to a three-wicket victory over New Zealand with a solid half-century in the triangular one-day series yesterday.

The left-handed opener hit nine fours in his 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 to a modest total before Tharanga ensured the win with his 17th half-century in one-day internationals.

"It was tough because they got the best batting conditions, but our bowlers started really well," said Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara.

"We managed to pick wickets at regular intervals. It was important for us to get the bonus point, but it was not to be. I am pretty happy with the win."

New Zealand, who beat India by 200 runs in the opening match on Tuesday, tasted early success when fast bowler Kyle Mills removed Tillakaratne Dilshan in his second over.

Sangakkara and Tharanga steadied the innings with an 85-run stand for the second wicket. The Sri Lankan captain made 48 before falling to a superb catch by Martin Guptill off Scott Styris. Tharanga, dropped on 44 by Styris in the slips off spinner Nathan McCullum, 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 when he hit a four off Mills. "We were outplayed. A total of 190 could have been enough if we had taken wickets. That didn't happen," said New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor.