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The BLACKCAPS put the disappointing Test series behind them with back to back Twenty20 victories against Sri Lanka at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
From the minute Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat it was one-way traffic with the visitors putting in an inspired team performance to take out the series with a 22 run win.
Openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder got the team off to a flyer blasting 84 for the first wicket including one 19 run over off Lasith Malinga.
Sri Lankan Captain Kumar Sangakkarra had no answers to the onslaught using six bowlers in the first ten overs with Sanath Jayasuriya eventually getting the break through, catching McCullum off his own bowling for 49.
It was vintage McCullum who struck four boundaries and two sixes, displaying tremendous hand speed, nimble footwork and lightening fast speed between the stumps.
Ryder was the supporting partner in the opening stand but freed arms once McCullum was dismissed, lashing 52 off 37 with three fours and three massive sixes before holing out to extra cover.
With a solid platform set, the rest of the batting line up were able to continue on in a positive fashion with Ross Taylor reaching 16, Martin Guptill 32 and Jacob Oram 17 not out setting a target of 171 to win.
Strike bowler Shane Bond got the team off to the ideal start taking the huge wicket of Tillarkartne Dilshan in the first over for just one.
Kyle Mills then picked up Mahela Udawatte with the first ball of the following over for a duck and then dismissed danger man Jayasuriya for seven to have the home team reeling at three for 11.
The experienced Mahela Jayawardene lead a fight back sharing a 67 run partnership with Sangakkara but just as they started to look dangerous Jayawardene threw his wicket away – caught off the bowling of Nathan McCullum for 41.
Three balls later McCullum had his second victim with Angelo Mathews caught in the covers for one leaving the home team 80 for five with less than ten overs to play.
Sangakkara kept Sri Lankan hopes alive with a gritty half century but couldn’t get a partner to stick around as Bond removed Gilhan Rupasinghe for 18.
Needing 28 from seven Sangakkara needed to find the rope but only succeeded in finding Jacob Oram who took the catch off his own bowling as all hopes of a victory were lost.
Bond picked up Nuwan Kulasekara in the final over to finish with figures of three for 18.
The BLACKCAPS next match is a warm up game against Sri Lanka A on 6 September.
