Cricket: Black Caps triumph in US opener

Scoreboard

A slick bowling and fielding performance saw New Zealand draw first blood over Sri Lanka with a 28-run win in the opening Twenty20 cricket international in Lauderhill, Florida, today.

Led by allrounder Scott Styris' three for 10, New Zealand dismissed Sri Lanka for 92 with two balls remaining as they chased just 121 for victory at Broward County Cricket Stadium in the first full cricket international played on US soil.

Styris was named man of the match but will miss tomorrow's second and final match (4am NZT) as he departs for his wedding in Fiji.

Despite a fine, warm day and a healthy crowd at the purpose-built stadium, the major talking point was the pitch which was painfully slow and borderline international standard.

Senior paceman Kyle Mills ended with two for 17, debutant Andy McKay two for 20 and captain Daniel Vettori one for 11 in a polished all-round New Zealand effort in the field.

"It was not much of a total but the pitch was a little bit difficult and we bowled very well, particularly led by Kyle Mills who was outstanding," Vettori told ESPN.

"We understand bowling on this sort of wicket and the size of the boundaries really help. It's difficult to hit sixes and get that momentum going. We made the most of the conditions in the second innings."

Defending a run rate of just six per over, Mills gave them a flying start when he nicked out dangerman Mahela Jayawardene of his second ball.

Mills struck another key blow when Tillakaratne Dilshan had a wild heave at a slower ball and was bowled.

After Mills' three-over first spell of two for 11, Sri Lanka were 25 for two off six overs.

Spinner Nathan McCullum went for 16 off one over but Vettori struck when opposing skipper Kumar Sangakkara hit a short ball straight to deep mid-wicket on 17.

The pitch seemed tailormade for Styris' medium pace variations and he put New Zealand in charge with wickets in consecutive balls in his second over.

Big-hitting Angelo Mathews (27 off 31 balls) found substitute fielder Jacob Oram at long on then Aaron Redmond produced a brilliant diving effort at deep square leg to remove Chamara Kapugedera.

Styris added another in his third over, Thissara Perera caught in the deep, and Sri Lanka were struggling at 69 for six in the 15th.

After more than a week in Miami promoting the series, New Zealand's batsmen managed just eight fours and a six in their innings of 120 for seven, which didn't appear enough against Sri Lanka's powerful batting lineup.

Brendon McCullum - who reclaimed the wicketkeeping gloves with Gareth Hopkins nursing a knee injury - did his bit with a trademark ramp shot for four and then a six off Nuwan Kulasekara in consecutive deliveries. But next ball he was fooled by a slower delivery and caught for 18 off 13.

Another debutant Rob Nicol (10 off 15) chopped on from spinner Suraj Randiv while Ross Taylor topscored with 27 off 30.

Taylor played largely conventional shots and kept the ball on the turf, hitting three boundaries, but was also frustrated by the slow pitch. Having survived an early run out appeal in a photo finish, Taylor's running between the wickets was again his downfall as he was caught short attempting two in the 14th over.

Spinner Ajantha Mendis (two for 18 off four) skittled Styris and Martin Guptill with deliveries that barely left the ground while Vettori boosted the total from a shaky 77 for five with an unbeaten 21 off 16.

Guptill appeared to suffer an injury and appeared to be doubtful for tomorrow's rematch.

- NZPA