HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka: New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in a rain-hit but thrilling one-day international in Hambantota on Tuesday.

The Black Caps, set a revised Duckworth-Lewis target of 198 runs in 23 overs, replied with 203-6 as Nathan McCullum smashed 22 runs off the last four balls by Rangana Herath.

Sri Lanka, who won the toss and elected to bat, were 117-1 in 20.4 overs when bad weather hit the southern coastal town. When play resumed, their innings ended at 138-1 in 23 overs.

The Black Caps face a challenging Duckworth-Lewis target of 198 from 23 overs to win the game.

Tillakaratne Dilshan made 55 not out and Kumar Sangakkara an unbeaten 71 off 59 balls as the duo put on 126 for the unbroken second wicket, after opener Dimuth Karunaratne was dismissed by Kyle Mills for four.

The first match on Sunday at the same venue was rained off with the Black Caps on 13-1 in 4.2 overs in reply to the home team’s 288-9.

The third and final one-dayer in Dambulla on Nov.16 will be followed by two Twenty20 internationals in Pallekele on Nov 19 and 21. No Tests are scheduled on the short tour.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka innings:

D. Karunaratne c Neesham b Mills 4

T. Dilshan not out 55

K. Sangakkara not out 71

Extras: (b1, lb2, w4, nb1) 8

Total (for one wicket, 23 overs) 138

Fall of wicket: 1-12.

Bowling: Mills 5-2-16-1 (nb1), Milne 3-0-20-0, Neesham 3-0-25-0 (w1), N. McCullum 4-0-23-0, Devcich 5-0-31-0 (w1), Nicol 2-0-12-0 (w1), Ellis 1-0-8-0 (w1)

New Zealand innings:(revised target of 198 runs):

T. Latham c Senanayake b Kulasekara 86

A. Devcich c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 1

R. Nicol c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 0

G. Elliott st Sangakkara b Senanayake 7

C. Munro c Thirimanne b Senanayake 15

L. Ronchi c Dilshan b Kulasekara 49

J. Neesham not out 5

N. McCullum not out 32

Extras: 8

Total: (for 6 wkts, 23 overs) 203

Fall of wkts: 1-8, 2-8, 3-34, 4-68, 5-161, 6-165.

Bowling: Malinga 5-0-42-0(w3), Kulasekara 5-0-34-4, Mathews 5-0-35-0, Senanayake 4-0-31-2, Dilshan 1-0-13-0, Herath 3-0-43-0.