Cricket: Sri Lanka crush NZ by 189 runs to square series

Sri Lanka have crushed New Zealand by 189 runs to emphatically level their five-match series after reducing the Black Caps to the second lowest score in their one-day cricket history at Eden Park here tonight.

Set 263 for victory, New Zealand were decimated for just 73 in 26.3 overs as Lasith Malinga and Chaminda Vaas grabbed a combined six for 24 off 16 overs to leave the Black Caps pursuit in tatters.

Craig McMillan's unbeaten 29 enabled New Zealand to at least eclipse the 64 they managed against Pakistan in Sharjah in 1985-86 but when Michael Mason became the sixth leg before wicket victim, New Zealand were still short of the 74 they made against Australia in Wellington in 1981-82.

Malinga took three for 14 and Vaas three for 10 to humble the home side.

Earlier, Sanath Jayasuriya plundered 70 off 44 balls and Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with 79 to set the platform for Sri Lanka to snap a two-match losing streak by guiding the visitors to 262 for six.

The series decider is in Hamilton on Tuesday.