<p>The opening match of New Zealand’s five-week tour of Sri Lanka was ruined by bad weather on Tuesday when the one-off Twenty20 international in Pallekele was abandoned as a no-result. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The game began 45 minutes late due to rain and the visitors, having been put in to bat on a green wicket offering plenty of movement for the seamers, slumped to 24 for five in the ninth over. <br /><br />Bad weather then intervened again, causing the officials to reduce the match to 14 overs per side. <br /><br />Tim Southee, going in at number nine, top-scored with an unbeaten 21 as New Zealand eventually finished on 74 for seven. <br /><br />Southee provided some entertainment for the small crowd when he clubbed four fours in one over by seam bowler Shaminda Eranga.<br /><br />Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara and Akhila Dananjaya finished with two wickets apiece. <br /><br />Sri Lanka reached six for no wicket in two overs in reply when the rain returned and the players scurried off the field for the last time. <br /><br />The two sides start a five-match, one-day international series at the same venue on Thursday.<br /><br />score board<br /><br />NEW ZEALAND <br /><br />(match reduced to 14 overs a side)<br /><br />Nicol lbw Eranga 1<br />Latham b Kulasekara 4<br />McCullum c Perera b Kulasekara 1<br />Taylor c Sangakarra b Perera 4<br />Franklin c Sangakarra b Perera 2<br />Watling c Chandimal b Dananjaya 8<br />Ellis c Thirimanne b Dananjaya 16<br />Oram (not out) 10<br />Southee (not out) 21<br /><br />Extras (LB-3, W-4) 7<br /><br />Total (for 7 wkts, 14 overs) 74<br /><br />Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-10, 3-15, 4-18, 5-24, 6-28, 7-51.<br />Bowling: Mathews 3-1-4-0, Kulasekara 3-0-1-2, Eranga 3-0-23-1, Perera 3-0-22-2, Dananjaya 2-0-9-2.<br /><br />SRI LANKA<br /><br />Munaweera (not out) 4<br />Dilshan (not out) 2<br />Total (no loss, 2 overs) 6<br />Bowling: Mills 1-0-3-0, Oram 1-0-3-0.</p>
<p>The opening match of New Zealand’s five-week tour of Sri Lanka was ruined by bad weather on Tuesday when the one-off Twenty20 international in Pallekele was abandoned as a no-result. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The game began 45 minutes late due to rain and the visitors, having been put in to bat on a green wicket offering plenty of movement for the seamers, slumped to 24 for five in the ninth over. <br /><br />Bad weather then intervened again, causing the officials to reduce the match to 14 overs per side. <br /><br />Tim Southee, going in at number nine, top-scored with an unbeaten 21 as New Zealand eventually finished on 74 for seven. <br /><br />Southee provided some entertainment for the small crowd when he clubbed four fours in one over by seam bowler Shaminda Eranga.<br /><br />Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara and Akhila Dananjaya finished with two wickets apiece. <br /><br />Sri Lanka reached six for no wicket in two overs in reply when the rain returned and the players scurried off the field for the last time. <br /><br />The two sides start a five-match, one-day international series at the same venue on Thursday.<br /><br />score board<br /><br />NEW ZEALAND <br /><br />(match reduced to 14 overs a side)<br /><br />Nicol lbw Eranga 1<br />Latham b Kulasekara 4<br />McCullum c Perera b Kulasekara 1<br />Taylor c Sangakarra b Perera 4<br />Franklin c Sangakarra b Perera 2<br />Watling c Chandimal b Dananjaya 8<br />Ellis c Thirimanne b Dananjaya 16<br />Oram (not out) 10<br />Southee (not out) 21<br /><br />Extras (LB-3, W-4) 7<br /><br />Total (for 7 wkts, 14 overs) 74<br /><br />Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-10, 3-15, 4-18, 5-24, 6-28, 7-51.<br />Bowling: Mathews 3-1-4-0, Kulasekara 3-0-1-2, Eranga 3-0-23-1, Perera 3-0-22-2, Dananjaya 2-0-9-2.<br /><br />SRI LANKA<br /><br />Munaweera (not out) 4<br />Dilshan (not out) 2<br />Total (no loss, 2 overs) 6<br />Bowling: Mills 1-0-3-0, Oram 1-0-3-0.</p>