Sri Lanka beat New Zealand rather easily in the second game of the Micromax Cup tri-series game at Dambulla to gain their four points. However, with five points from two points, after their crushing win over India, New Zealand still top the table.
The Kiwis won the toss for the second time in a row, and decided to bat first given that it does become harder to bat under the lights. However, the joy of winning the toss was short-lived as they lost Martin Guptill in the very first over off the bowling of Lasith Malinga for a duck. Captain Ross Taylor came in at the number three position to join their new opener BJ Watling, and the pair looked comfortable to begin with.
Taylor seemed to be operating on the premise that if he saw off the new ball and its swing, the runs would be easier to come by later. Unfortunately for him, Angelo Mathews brought a ball back into him and he was declared out LBW, while Kane Williamson got his second duck in as many games to leave the Kiwis tottering at 47/3. 
Scott Styris, another hero of the previous game against India then joined Watling and pair saw off any more immediate loss of wickets. They added 52 runs for the fourth wicket, and were reasonably quick as well to get to 99/3. The recovery was then hit by another couple of wickets, as both, Styris (24) and Watling – who had just got to his maiden ODI fifty – were sent back packing. New Zealand looked like in deep trouble at 101/5 and soon Malinga had two in two to peg them back 123/7.
Nathan McCullum got a 36 in the end, but the early loss meant that the side could manage only 192 in the 48.1 overs.
Chasing 193 for a win, T Dilshan was sent back early, but the pair of Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sanagakkara negotiated the early movement and bounce well. The pair got to 96 before Sangakkara was out, but Tharanga carried on to get to his half century.
Thilan Samaraweera did give Tharanga good company, but once Tharanga was dismissed for 70 by Kyle Mills, the Lankan side saw a collapse. From 162/3, the side capitulated to 180/7 and all of a sudden, the Kiwis seemed to be back into it.
Fortunately for the side, Samaraweera continued his form from the Tests and won the game for his side with plenty of overs to spare. Samaraweera scored an unbeaten 36.