The BLACKCAPS held their nerve at Bay Oval in Tauranga on Thursday to clinch a tense three-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first ANZ Twenty20 of the summer.
Decked out in their new beige kit and in front of a sold out crowd at the Mount, the game came down to the last over with the visitors failing to get the necessary 13 runs to chase down the 183-run target.
Local lad Trent Boult snared the Man of the Match award for his three for 21 off four overs, but there was plenty of shining lights for the hosts.
After losing the toss and being put into bat, the BLACKCAPS' innings was built on firm foundations as Martin Guptill and captain Kane Williamson opened up with a 101-run stand.
Guptill’s irresistible form continued as he bludgeoned 58 off 34 balls.
Meanwhile, Williamson fed the strike and went on to anchor the innings with a controlled 53 off 42.
Auckland's Colin Munro came in at first drop and showed off his trademark power and panache as he batted through the middle for 36 off 26.
Some late hitting from Ross Taylor (22 off nine) and Grant Elliott (10* off 6) helped the total up to 182 which seemed about par.
In reply, the visitors came out swinging and Boult made the first breakthrough as the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan was caught down the leg side on review for a golden duck.
Matt Henry picked up Chandimal shortly after and when Boult nabbed his second wicket, Sri Lanka were in the mire at 33 for three.
Opener Danushka Gunathilaka (46) and Mirinda Siriwardana (42) lead the fightback and set up a grandstand finish with the hosts requiring 45 runs off the final 30 balls with four wickets in hand.
Relive the sights and scenes at a packed Bay Oval
When Siriwardana was well caught on the run by Mitchell McClenaghan off Boult, the game tightened again and soon there was 19 needed off the last two overs.
A classy penultimate over from McClenaghan left 13 runs to get off the last over, to be bowled by Elliott.
Elliott held his nerve to claim two wickets in the over and concede just nine runs to send the home crowd into raptures and secure the opening ANZ T20 victory in the two-game series.
The teams relocate up to Auckland on Friday before the last game of the ANZ International Series with Sri Lanka at Eden Park on Sunday at 3pm.
