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SL won by 4 wickets

10:25 PM: The dream run continues for Sri Lanka as they kick start the limited overs leg of the New Zealand series with a stunning 4-wicket win at Dambulla. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. The Lankan bowlers led by Dunith Wellalage (3/20) did short work of the Kiwi side but some important hits lower down the order from Zak Foulkes ensured the Kiwis got to a defendable total of 135 in 19.3 overs. Sri Lanka didn't get a perfect start losing Kusal Mendis for a duck. Pathum Nissanka (19) and Kusal Perera (23) broke the shackles adding 40 runs in 3.2 overs before Zak Foulkes removed Nissanka in the 6th over. Michael Bracewell trapped Perera next in the 7th over with Kamindu Mendis also scoring 23 in 16 balls. Foulkes struck again in the 12th over to send Bhanuka Rajapaksa packing for just 4 with Lanka losing half of their side for 87 runs. Skipper Charith Asalanka held his nerve adding 38 runs with Wanindu Hasaranga for the 6th wicket. It was Foulkes again who broke the pair by inducing a false stroke from Wanindu off a slower delivery. Dunith Wellalage struggled against the pace and bounce but it was the southpaw who smashed the pacer Jacob Duffy for a maximum that sealed the game for the hosts. Asalanka remained unbeaten on 35, the highest score tonight for either side, Wellalage hit 11 in 7 balls. For New Zealand, Foulkes finished as the top bowler with 3/20 with Glenn Phillips (1/12), Mitchell Santner (1/30) and Michael Bracewell (1/31) also finding their names in the wickets column. Duffy (0/29) was economic but the Kiwi total was never big enough for the triumphant Lankan side who went big in the powerplay despite losing the two wickets. The hosts managed 49 runs in the first six overs with New Zealand scoring 31/3 in their first six. The second T20I will be played tomorrow at the same venue. Stay tuned for the post match presentation.

Kusal Perera: "We all know the wicket was going to do something for the spinners. 130 is not a par score. But our batters had to work hard. Really special effort in this game. When the ball is new, we have to take risk in the powerplay. We had to take twos after that. When I walk out to bat, there is always pressure. I try to sweep and take on the spinners. (On becoming the highest scorer for Sri Lanka in T20Is) I'm glad to know that. Really happy. I'm taking game by game. I'm doing the hard work and we'll see how it goes in the future."

Time for the post-match presentation.

Mitchell Santner (New Zealand Captain): "Its obviously a challenge. We did pretty well to get 130 but the credit goes to the way Sri Lankan spinners bowled. It was a spinning wicket, at the halfway stage we thought we could defend it. 160 or 150 would have been a better total but the dew settled in and it was hard to grip the ball. That will be the thought for tomorrow. Its always a privilege to captain your country. We have an exciting young group who is very keen to learn. We have a lot of One-day Internationals and T20 cricket coming up so we will take our learnings from tonight and get back tomorrow."

Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain and Player of the Match): "Of course, a bit of nervous. But my plan was to bat till end. I think Wellalage and Wanindu batted really well. Yes, I think we could have bowled them out 15 or 20 runs before. The credit should go to their lower-order batters. They batted well in the end. I think as a team, it doesn't matter lot. All guys play spin well. We are confident about that. They are hitting the right options. They are sweeping, reverse-sweeping and playing inside out as well. Definitely, that's the way we are going forward. I hope more things will come in the future. That was the plus point for me as a captain. We want to continue soon."

That's it from our coverage of the series opener from Dambulla. Ninaad Dixit here signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Akshay Bhide and scorer/analyst Raju Khariya. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world.