Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Kiwis lost Martin Guptill early, caught behind off Lasith Malinga for 13, and then suffered a blow when captain Kane Williamson was dismissed by Nuwan Pradeep for just a single. However, Colin Munro and Ross Taylor added 112 for the third wicket off just 18 overs before Munro, who had hit 2 sixes and 12 fours was run out for 87.
Taylor and Henry Nicholls then shared a stand of 57 until Malinga had Nicholls caught behind for 32, but, yet again, Jimmy Neesham injected some late impetus to the innings. He and Taylor added 54 until Tylor was run out for 90, with a six and 4 fours to his name. Neesham, who had hit 3 sixes and 5 fours was also run out for 64, as was Tim Seiffert who scored a late 22, as New Zealand closed on 319 – 7.
In reply Sri Lanka suffered the early loss of opener Niroshan Dickwella, bowled by Tim Southee for 9, but Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Perera added 45 for the second wicket, although Perera only scored 4 of them until he was caught off the bowling of Matt Henry.
Kusal Mendis and Gunathilaka added 49 for the third wicket, but a collapse saw Sri Lanka lose 5 wickets in just 5 overs, for the addition of only 16 runs, with New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi picking up three wickets and Neesham accounting for Gunathilaka for 71.
However, Thisara Perera mounted a one-man fightback, sharing an 8th wicket stand of 75 with his captain Malinga, and a 9th wicket partnership of 51 with Lakshan Sandakan. His 140 featured no less than 13 sixes and 8 fours, and was his best in ODI cricket. In the end it was in vain as he fell to Henry going for one big shot too many, but he had dragged his side to 298 all out, within touching distance of victory.
For his efforts he was deservedly named man of the match.