New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was pleased with his team's fightback which helped it secure a three-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international in Colombo.
Ross Taylor's innings of 60 was the cornerstone of New Zealand's total of 141-8, but a power-packed 57 off just 28 deliveries from Tillakaratne Dilshan had left New Zealand reeling.
Dilshan's blitz helped Sri Lanka reach 64 for two after six overs, but New Zealand swung the game back in its favour with a strong bowling and fielding display.
Jesse Ryder set the pace by running out Mahela Jayawardene cheaply, while Vettori claimed the wickets of Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara and debutant Gihan Rupasinghe (15) as Sri Lanka lost wickets regularly.
Jacob Oram, who dismissed Angelo Mathews - the last recognised batsman - with the final ball of the 17th over, completed a hat-trick by dismissing Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga Bandara with the first two deliveries of the 20th over as Sri Lanka were restricted to 138-9, handing New Zealand victory.
Vettori said he was pleased with the effort his bowlers had put in.
"I think we were about 15 runs short, but the history of this track suggests that it gets harder to bat on as the game progresses," Vettori said.
"We knew we were in with a chance and the fightback after we got Dilshan was impressive."
"The ball stopped a little and we managed to just strangle them and pile on the pressure."
"The bowling at the death is the best it has been for a long time and to put them under pressure after the start Dilshan gave them is really satisfying."
Although the pitch at the Premadasa Stadium had aided spin, Vettori believed his side's fielding had contributed immensely to the victory.
"I think the fielding really stands out in Twenty20 and you just have to take the chances that come your way," he said.
"I think Ryder's run out of Jayawardene at the start of innings was an amazing piece of work and all the guys did a fair bit of work in the field."
Vettori praised Dilshan's batting, but said his team was trying to find ways to stop the batsman.
"He has been the real difference between the two sides in the Test series and in this game today," he said.
"He's playing at the top of his game and he's playing some good cricket."
"It's difficult to know where to bowl to him because he has such a wide range of shots."
"We just need to keep looking at the footage and find a way to stop him."
This was Sri Lanka's third straight defeat in Twenty20 games at the Premadasa Stadium, having lost to Pakistan and India in previous matches, and Sangakkara was disappointed.
"With the start Dilsha gave us, not being able to chance 141 is inexcusable," he said.
"We just lost too many wickets at crucial times and could not put together partnerships and that's why we lost."
Sangakkara felt the team had let down Dilshan and the bowlers who had done well to restrict New Zealand to a score that was easily reachable.
"I think Dilshan has matured a lot in the last two years and he had understood how good he really is and now he is maximising his opportunities," Sangakkara said.
"We just couldn't support him or the bowlers, who did a very good job of keeping them to 141."
"We've got to get back to the drawing board, find out where we went wrong and then improve quickly so that we win the next game."