- Reuters :Sri Lanka's Sangakkara evades a rising delivery during a match of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament against New Zealand in Mumbai, yesterday. Sri Lanka won by seven wickets.

MUMBAI, India (CMC):

Sri Lanka rebounded from their opening game loss to soundly defeat New Zealand in their ICC Champions Trophy Group B contest at the Brabourne Stadium.

The Sri Lankans won by seven wickets to join New Zealand and Pakistan on two points in the standings. Pakistan have a game in hand, while South Africa, the other team in the group, lost their only match played.

Muttiah Muralitharan grabbed four for 23 as Sri Lanka dismissed New Zealand for a paltry 165, and then in-form opening batsman Upul Tharanga paced the run chase with 56 as they made 166 for three.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Kiwis found themselves struggling on 87 for six in the 30th over. Daniel Vettori (46 not out) and Nathan Astle (42) provided the main resistance on either side of the 25 over mark.

Astle defied the Sri Lankan attack in the first half of the innings, but ran out of partners before top-edging an attempted sweep off Muralitharan to Lasith Malinga at deep mid wicket.

Vettori joined with Jeetan Patel (10) for the biggest partnership of the New Zealand innings, 47 runs, for the 10th wicket.

Muralitharan's haul ended a lean period in which he took just four wickets in his four previous matches. Lasith Malinga took two for 22 while Srinath Jayasuriya ended with two for 26.

The Sri Lankan target might have been smaller had their bowlers not struggled initially, and were culpable for 17 of their 25 extras. Pacer Chaminda Vaas was the chief offender with six no balls.

When Sri Lanka replied, Tharanga, who scored consecutive centuries in the qualifying round, shared a second-wicket stand of 89 with captain Mahela Jayawardene (48) as they reached their target with 14 overs to spare.

He faced 77 deliveries and he hit four fours.