HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka (AP) Tillakaratne Dilshan top scored with 81 Sunday to guide Sri Lanka to a comfortable 288 for nine in 50 overs in the first one-day international against New Zealand.
Kumar Sangakkara (79) and captain Angelo Mathews (74 not out) played crucial parts to consolidate the innings after the hosts lost Dimuth Karunaratne for a first-ball duck.
Dilshan faced 114 deliveries and hit nine boundaries. He shared 137 runs for the second wicket with Sangakkara, who hit nine boundaries and two sixes off 81 deliveries.
Captain Kyle Mills snared Karunaratne with the first ball, trapping him lbw to provide the tourists a solid start. However, Sri Lanka fought back with the help of a 155-ball partnership between Dilshan and Sangakkara.
Sri Lanka lost quick wickets in the latter stages but Mathews held one end with nine boundaries and a six during a 64-ball innings.