Cricket: Black Caps' bad luck takes turn for the worse

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COLOMBO - New Zealand cricket coach Andy Moles made no attempt to mask his side's inadequacies after Sri Lanka swept to a comfortable 97-run one-day international win overnight (NZT).

Once Daniel Vettori called incorrectly, New Zealand were bound to struggle in the Tri-Series opener, given that the low and slow R Premadasa Stadium pitch is weighted in favour of the team batting first.

New Zealand fell well short of Sri Lanka's 216 for seven, becoming the 11th team in a row unable to run down a target under lights at the ground.

New Zealand petered out on 119 in the 37th over to gift Sri Lanka a five-point haul and all but guarantee they feature in Monday's final, against either New Zealand or India.

If New Zealand are to make the final they must beat the world No 2-ranked India at Premadasa on Friday, preferably with a bonus point, then rely on Sri Lanka to continue their winning ways against their neighbours on Saturday.

Vettori's bad luck with the toss initially appeared to have been negated by New Zealand's impressive start to a contest that resembled a war of attrition.

Sri Lanka were reduced to 38 for four in the 16th over but a sterling 127-run partnership for the sixth wicket between century maker Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews tilted the balance in the hosts' favour.

Then Lasith Malinga took three wickets in five balls as New Zealand tried to recover from a sticky seven for three after 4.5 overs.

Malinga removed McCullum brothers Brendon and Nathan either side of Jacob Oram in the 19th over as New Zealand crashed to 41 for six.

He finished with four for 28, though it was Samaraweera's 104 from 124 balls and a half century by Mathews that turned the game.

"Samaraweera played really well with Angelo Mathews it was a very good partnership," said Moles, who lamented his side's inability to finish off Sri Lanka's innings.

"We're very disappointed. We had an excellent start and we let them off the hook.

"At this level you need to finish teams off, we didn't and we paid the price."

Samaraweera, who scored 159 and 143 against New Zealand in last month's test series, added a sublime third ton - the first of a sporadic ODI career that started in 1998 but spans only 22 matches.

Mathews joined Samaraweera at 69 for five in 26th over and remained until the 48th to contribute 51 from 60 deliveries, an exceptional strike rate in the context of a low and slow scoring affair.

Man of the match Samaraweera praised his junior partner, crediting the 22-year-old for keeping the runs ticking over.

"That was the turning point I think, he batted really well in the power play," Samaraweera said.

Sri Lanka were crawling at 65 for four in the 25th over but crucially conserved their remaining wickets while New Zealand's attack wilted in the latter stages.

Knowing the history of the ground, Samaraweera was always confident even 200 would be "difficult" to match.

New Zealand were unable to build a partnership rivalling that of Samaraweera and Mathews - Vettori and Grant Elliott's best of 35 for the seventh wicket summing up the gulf between the teams.

- NZPA