Related Links : ICC World T20 2010 in West Indies | Scorecard of New Zealand Vs Sri Lanka
New Zealand registered a hard earned victory in the tournament opener at the Providence Stadium against Sri Lanka. Needing 136 to win on a sluggish pitch, the Kiwis were struggling at 96 for 5 before the trio of Oram, Vettori and Nathan McCullum came up with crucial cameos to clinch the deal. Nathan McCullum who had also picked up 1 for 17 in 3 overs with the ball finished the match under pressure with a boundary and a six in an unbeaten 16 from 6 balls.
Opener Jesse Ryder was the only batsman who looked comfortable for the Kiwis in the run chase making 42 from 27 balls which included 2 sixes. Sri Lanka had worked their way to 135 for 6 thanks largely to a classy knock of 81 from 51 balls (with 8 fours and 2 sixes) from Mahela Jayawardene who still managed to time the ball sweetly.