New Zealand swatted aside Sri Lanka New Zealand swatted aside Sri Lanka

Mitchell Santner was delighted New Zealand "put on a show" for their home fans after they claimed an emphatic nine-wicket ODI win over Sri Lanka. (Match Highlights | More Cricket News)

Will Young plundered an unbeaten 90 after Matt Henry (4-19) had led New Zealand's charge with the ball as they bowled out Sri Lanka for just 180 on a cold day at Basin Reserve.

Having won the three-match T20I series 2-1, Sunday's victory marked an excellent start to the ODI run of Sri Lanka's tour.

And Black Caps captain Santner was thrilled to have provided some entertainment in Wellington as New Zealand began their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy.

NZ Vs SL, 1st T20I: New Zealand Captain Santner Hails Duffy After Win Over Sri Lanka

BY Stats Perform

"I think as a collective it was very pleasing," he said.

"[The Champions Trophy] sits in the back of our minds, but it's a pretty important series here for us. 

"We want to put on a bit of a show for the crowd in our home summer.

"So it's a great start here, now we get to Hamilton. It's probably going to be a different picture all over again, and a new challenge. 

u31 slot

"It was pretty cold out there. So to see everyone stick around, even right at the end, it was pleasing, it was amazing for us. It's a great spectacle to play in front of."

A 1-0 series lead in Te Whanganui-a-Tara - Wellington! Will Young leading the chase with an unbeaten 90, with good support from Rachin Ravindra (45) and Mark Chapman (29*). Catch-up on all scores | https://t.co/06edyZYPh2  #NZvSL #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/YWhCXfZyDJ

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 5, 2025

Sri Lanka offered little resistance with the ball - Chamidu Wickramasinghe (1-28) taking the only wicket, dismissing Rachin Ravindra (45).

Young and Mark Chapman (29) guided New Zealand to victory, with Henry and the rest of the Black Caps bowlers having earlier done the damage.

Avishka Fernando scored 56, but only three other batters hit double figures for the tourists.

"It was windy, and it was going to be hard for us, but that's not the reason [we lost]," said Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka.

"As professionals, we have to play in any kind of situation and any kind of conditions. Bad batting put us in this situation.

"I think they bowled really nicely. It's really hard for us to come back, but it's not enough runs.

"We have to eradicate the bad habits, and we have to reconnect the good habits. That's where that's what we are looking for."

The first quarter had plenty of action with both teams finding themselves with opportunities to take the lead through penalty corners. As neither team got past each other’s defencehuuugebet, the quarter remained goalless.