Bowlers, Young outclass Sri Lanka in ODI series opener

Matt Henry took 4 for 19 as New Zealand bowled Sri Lanka out for 178 and chased down the paltry total in just 26.2 overs courtesy a blazing unbeaten 90 from Will Young to take an early lead in the ODI series.

On a Basin Reserve wicket that offered early assistance to the bowlers, New Zealand won a key toss, did all of the front running and kept the opposition under the pump.

New captain Mitchell Santner won an important toss and made no missteps as Sri Lanka were reduced to 23 for 4 inside 10 overs.

Henry opened the sluice gates in the fifth over when Pathum Nissanka chipped a simple catch to mid-off. In the very next over, Jacob Duffy had Kusal Mendis chopping on. New Zealand backed up their bowling with excellent ground fielding as Santner swooped in on a push-and-run from Kamindu Mendis and flicked a direct hit at the bowler's end to effect a sharp run-out. Santner also called right with a DRS review to give Nathan Smith the wicket of Charith Asalanka.

Sri Lanka rallied after the early setback through an 87-run partnership between Avishka Fernando and Janith Liyanage. The pair plundered another 11 runs off a Smith over as runs continued to come along at a healthy clip. Eventually, the partnership was broken by the captain, who dragged his length back and had Liyanage miscue an attempted heave.

Fernando fell for a solid 56 in the immediate next over. Sri Lanka found another 48-run stand between Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Wanindu Hasaranga. Eventually, Henry returned to the attack and struck immediately to dismiss Wickramisnghe. He picked a wicket in each of his three remaining overs to finish with a four-fer as Sri Lanka were bowled out in the 44th over.

In response, Young and Ravindra got the hosts off to a blazing start, adding 93 runs for the first wicket in just 12.3 overs. Ravindra fell for a 36-ball 45 but Young carried on, hitting as many as 12 boundaries in his 86-ball 90* and polished off the chase with more than 23 to spare.