Jacob Oram claimed three wickets as New Zealand overcame a destructive half-century from Tillakaratne Dilshan to secure a thrilling three-run victory in the first Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Ross Taylor hit a fine 60 off 45 deliveries as New Zealand finished with 141 for eight batting first, but Dilshan's blistering 57 off just 28 deliveries had threatened to make short work of that total.
But the Black Caps fought back in style to restrict the home side to 138 for nine and secure a narrow victory in the first of two Twenty20 games.
Dilshan began in his customary aggressive fashion, smacking Shane Bond - playing his first international match since his return from a stint in the Indian Cricket League - for four consecutive boundaries in the first over with the new ball.
The opener continued to flourish even as wickets went down in a heap at the other end.
Sanath Jayasuriya (one) went cheaply, caught at short fine leg off Kyle Mills, while Mahela Jayawardene was brilliantly run out by Jesse Ryder for just three.
Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed by Daniel Vettori for 13 as Sri Lanka lost wickets in quick succession, but Dilshan kept the required run-rate from soaring.
He carted Mills for two sixes in the bowler's second over and smashed Ian Butler for consecutive blows to raise Sri Lanka's 50 inside the first five overs.
Dilshan brought up his own half-century off just 23 deliveries with a single off Vettori, but fell soon after, chasing a delivery from Butler and presenting Ryder with a catch at backward point.
Chamara Kapugedera's dismissal almost immediately after left Sri Lanka reeling at 85 for five and brought New Zealand back into contention.
Angelo Mathews (21) and debutant Gihan Rupasinghe (15) steadied the innings somewhat and steered Sri Lanka past the 100-run mark when Vettori won a leg before appeal against Rupasinghe.
Mathews was then caught and bowled by Jacob Oram, setting the stage for a tight finish.
Sri Lanka needed 13 from the last two overs, but Bond conceded only four in the 19th and Oram claimed two wickets off successive deliveries in the 20th to secure victory for New Zealand.
Earlier, Taylor held New Zealand's innings top order together after Nuwan Kulasekara sent back openers Brendon McCullum and Ryder inside the first five overs.
McCullum, looking to flay the bowling right from the first delivery he faced, hit Malinga for a six over the point boundary but was dismissed for just nine.
Kulasekara deflected a drive from Ryder onto the stumps at the non-striker's end and caught McCullum backing way out of his crease.
Ryder, who had driven Kulasekara and Malinga for boundaries, then fell to a slower delivery from the fast bowler for just 13.
Ryder mistimed his drive, the ball going straight up in the air and Bandara completed the dismissal with a superb catch running back from cover.
Taylor, together with Martin Guptill, began the task of rebuilding quickly, hammering Mathews for consecutive blows in the sixth over, but the Black Caps managed only a measly 38 runs from the powerplay.
Jayasuriya should have had the wicket of Guptill in his first over, but Mathews grassed a catch in the deep with the batsman on 18.
Guptill, however, added only 11 more when he fell, sweeping Bandara straight to Kulasekara at deep square leg.
Taylor reached his third Twenty20 international half-century with a tight brace off Ajantha Mendis, but fell in the 18th, caught at third man.
The wickets then tumbled quickly and Malinga provided more thrills by dismissing Mills and Vettori off successive deliveries in the final over.
Butler denied him a hat-trick, but the Black Caps ended with a total which was just par for the course.
