Jayasuriya takes Lankans to easy win over Kiwis

Sanath Jayasuriya scored a quick-fire 79 from 63 deliveries to lead Sri Lanka to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in a day-night limited-overs cricket match at Lancaster Park.

Jayasuriya put his side in the fast lane towards a victory target of 202, and his team surpassed New Zealand's 201-9 with 14.1 overs to spare.

Aravinda de Silva also returned to form for Sri Lanka, scoring 66 from 70 balls.

Jayasuriya's fine innings started immediately as he belted Simon Doull over the offside for successive fours in the opening over. He slammed Doull for 24 runs, including consecutive sixes over mid wicket, off the seam bowler's third over as Sri Lanka streaked past 50 in just 32 balls.

The lefthander passed his 50 shortly after that, from only 29 balls, after striking six fours and three sixes. It was the 27-year-old's 14th one-day international half-century but not his fastest.

He set the world benchmark for the quickest 50 when he rocketed past the half-century mark in 17 balls against Pakistan in Singapore last year.

Jayasuriya, who was named player of the tournament when Sri Lanka won the World Cup 12 months ago, had earlier bowled his slow left arm deliveries well to collect 3-26 after his captain Arjuna Ranatunga invited the home side to bat first.

By the time Jayasuriya departed in the 21st over -- he directed a loopy full toss from Chris Harris to Gavin Larsen at square leg -- Sri Lanka was in full control of the match at 137-3.

He and de Silva, whose third-wicket partnership of 64 occupied just 61 deliveries, had set the scene for a Sri Lankan stroll to victory.

One of the few Kiwi players to emerge from the match with credit was allrounder Harris, who had hit an unbeaten 38 to ensure that his side edged past 200 and followed that up with a fine performance with the ball.

Harris' medium-paced legspinners were introduced in the seventh over after Jayasuriya's early fireworks, and he did well to complete his 10 overs in two spells while picking up 2-38.