Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 102 not out asSri Lanka beat New Zealand by seven wickets on the Duckworth/Lewis method in arain-affected third one-day international on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka now leads 2-0 in the five-match series after thematch was reduced to 33 overs per side at Pallekele International Stadium. Thefirst ODI was washed out.
Dilshan hit 12 boundaries and a six in 95 deliveries to helpchase down the formidable, revised target of 197. He and Angelo Mathews, who scoredan unbeaten 54, put on 127 in an unbroken stand for the fourth wicket after SriLanka had lost 73-3 in its chase.
Dilshan's 14th ODI century, which he brought up with a sixoff seamer Tim Southee, overshadowed a career-high score of 96 not out for BJWatling as he led New Zealand to 188-6 after the visitors were sent in to bat.
"Dilshan took the game away. We were always in thegame. Dew made it tough for the bowlers," said New Zealand captain RossTaylor.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said conditions suitedhis players when they batted because of dew on the field.
"Dilshan showed lot of maturity and guidedAngelo," he said. "We needed a good partnership after the threewickets. I was not too worried."
Sri Lanka lost opener Upul Tharanga for 10 with the total on30, caught by Jacob Oram in trying to fend off a bouncer from Southee.
Kumar Sangakkara then pulled hard at seamer Kyle Mills on 15and Taylor took a sharp catch at third-man.
Jayawardene, who was instrumental in Sri Lanka's 14-run winin the second ODI on Sunday with an unbeaten 43, was out caught by Oram offspinner Nathan McCullum for 5.
Watling hit 12 boundaries in 88 deliveries for his secondstraight half-century on tour. He shared a quickfire 71-run partnership in sixovers with No. 8 batsman Nathan McCullum (22 not out) as the Kiwis scored 100runs in the last 10 overs. James Franklin scored 26 in a 56-run stand withWatling after New Zealand had been 49-4.
Watling's previous best was an unbeaten 72 against WestIndies in July. He made 55 last Sunday in a match won by Sri Lanka on theDuckworth/Lewis method .
Fast bowler Lasith Malinga struck early in New Zealand'sinnings, having Rob Nicol caught at slip by Jayawardene with the total on 9.
Brendon McCullum, who sat out the last match with an injury,was trapped lbw for 13 by Mathews.
New Zealand's batting was also frustrated by the raininterruptions. A complete match has yet to be played on tour, with only 16overs of play possible in the sole Twenty20 match and the first ODI beingabandoned without a ball being bowled.
Taylor was run out for 7 to a sharp direct hit by JeevanMendis, and when Oram was trapped lbw on 2 trying to reverse sweep, the Kiwisslumped to a precarious 49-4.
Watling and Franklin then laid a strong foundation for alate assault. Watling made 50 off 70 balls, then 46 off 18.
Nathan McCullum hit two sixes in an 18-ball 22 not out.
Legspin bowler Jeevan Mendis returned Sri Lanka's bestbowling figures with 2-34.