JOIN USJayawardene smashed a 51-ball 81 including eight fours and two sixes as Sri Lanka made a good total on a slow and low pitch.
The total could assume far difficult proportions while chasing for New Zealand if Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis can hit their straps.
The tricky nature of the wicket was quite evident from the early part of the match itself as opener Tillakratne Dilshan and then skipper Kumar Sangakkara struggled to force the pace once the Lankans decided to bat after winning the toss.
Dilshan was cleaned up by Jacob Oram while Styris disturbed the woodwork of Sangakkara but young Dinesh Chandimal gave solid support to Jayawardene allowing his senior partner to score freely, but Nathan McCullum snapped the blossoming alliance.