Ross Taylor and Colin de Grandhomme have powered New Zealand to victory in their first T20 international against Sri Lanka.
Set 175 for victory, the Blackcaps chased down that target with three balls and five wickets to spare under lights at Kandy's Pallekele International Stadium.
Taylor and de Grandhomme seized control of the chase, smashing 79 runs in 6.1 overs in a big-hitting sixth-wicket partnership, before Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner's 31-run unbroken stand steered New Zealand home.
Taylor (48 off 29 balls) and de Grandomme (44 off 28 balls) hit two sixes each, as the pair helped their side recover from 39/3 in the eighth over.
"We knew 175 was going to be a tough target and we got off to a slow start, but Colin de Grandhomme took the pressure off me and we were able to get boundaries at crucial times," Taylor said.
"The run rate was always in check, and the cameos from Mitchell and Santner at the end complemented a good game."
The Blackcaps played without the injured fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who was ruled out of the tour, after fracturing his right thumb in training.
Earlier, Kusal Mendis (79 from 53 balls) top-scored for Sri Lanka, while Tim Southee (2/20) and Mitchell Santner (1/22) applied the brakes to an innings that was heading towards 200-plus.
But three sixes off swing bowler Seth Rance's (0/58) final over lifted the home side to a very competitive 174/4.
Newshub.
