The New Zealander cricket team endured poor passages of play in the latter stages of either innings of the first one dayer, but did enough to seal victory against the Sri Lanka Board President's XI in their first match on tour.
The win was easier than suggested by the eventual three-wicket margin, with Ross Taylor and Scott Styris striking fluent fifties before the visitors crossed the line with 72 balls to spare.
The Sri Lankan XI elected to bat first, but did not account for their opponents' inspired fast-bowling pack with Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee and Andy McKay taking two wickets each.
The Black Caps' chase faced an early setback when BJ Watling was out for four.
However, Martin Guptill and Taylor added 65 at better than a-run-a-ball with Guptill smashing three fours in his 33-ball 26 before being caught LBW.
Thereafter Styris laced into the bowling in an aggressive partnership with Taylor to put the result beyond doubt.
