The left-hander hit 56 and shared an 89-run second-wicket stand with captain Mahela Jayawardene (48) as Sri Lanka reached their target of 166 with 14 overs to spare.

Earlier, prolific off-spinner Muttiah Muralidaran, adjudged man-of-the-match, grabbed 4-23 as Sri Lanka bowled out New Zealand for 165.

Nathan Astle made a battling 42 for the Kiwis and Daniel Vettori hit an unbeaten 46 but the rest of the batting struggled to come to terms with the turning ball after electing to bat in the day-night international.

New Zealand were reduced to 118-9 in the 39th over before the last-wicket pair of Vettori and Jeetan Patel (10) added 47 valuable runs. Left-handed Vettori boosted the total with three consecutive boundaries off Chaminda Vaas in the 49th over which cost 19 runs.

Sri Lanka needed to win the Group B encounter at the Brabourne Stadium to stay in contention for the semifinals after losing their opening match to Pakistan in Jaipur.

The wicket continued to assist turn despite the International Cricket Council's pitch consultant Andy Atkinson spraying it with a glue, Polyvinvl Acetate, before the start to help bind it for 100 overs.

The pitch, that turned from brown to white after the spray, had been criticised over the last week for breaking up in the second innings, causing a string of low scores. New Zealand, however, had themselves to blame for the sluggish display that saw the first nine wickets fall in quick time.

Stephen Fleming, who made a match-winning 89 against South Africa, failed to score in his 193rd one-dayer as captain, equalling the world record tally of former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga.

Lou Vincent was bowled by Farveez Maharoof attempting a rash pull shot, Hamish Marshall cut Lasith Malinga to point and Scott Styris was caught behind off Sanath Jayasuriya's fourth delivery.

Muralidaran, who came on to bowl in the 26th over, shattered Jacob Oram's stumps with his fourth ball and ended Astle's long vigil at the crease by having him caught at deep mid-wicket by Malinga.