Sanath Jayasuriya [ Images ] blasted 111 off just 87 balls as Sri Lanka [ Images ] chased down a daunting target of 285 with ten overs to spare in the first one-day international against New Zealand [ Images ] at Napier [ Images ] on Thursday.

The hosts had looked well set after a fine century in only his third one-dayer from Ross Taylor [ Images ] helped New Zealand to 285 for eight from their fifty overs at McLean Park.

But a thrilling opening stand of 201 in just 24 overs between Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga (68) set the Sri Lankans up for a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Taylor spanked an unbeaten 128 off 133 deliveries, featuring 12 boundaries and four massive sixes.

The 22-year-old's final six sailed out of the ground and into a neighbouring property, forcing the umpires to call for a new ball.

New Zealand opener Nathan Astle blazed a quick 83 off 87 deliveries as well as sharing in a record 151-run stand with Taylor for the second wicket before he was run out.

Chaminda Vaas [ Images ] was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, taking 3-50 from 10 overs while off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ] took 1-48.

But it was soon clear that the total was not too daunting for a rampant Jayasuriya.

The 37-year-old struck 12 fours and five sixes in his 23rd one-day hundred as he and Tharanga savaged the Kiwi attack.

The duo finally went in the space of two deliveries from James Franklin but run-a-ball efforts from skipper Mahela Jayawardene [ Images ] (34no) and Kumar Sangakkara [ Images ] (36) guided Sri Lanka home from the final ball of the 40th over.

The second match is at the Queenstown Events Centre on Sunday.

Scorecard

New Zealand:
B. McCullum lbw b Vaas 10
N. Astle run out 83
R. Taylor not out 128
P. Fulton c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 24
D. Vettori c M. Jayawardene b Vaas 5
J. Marshall lbw b Vaas 0
H. Marshall c Sangakkara b D. Fernando 17
J. Franklin b Malinga 2
A. Adams b Malinga 3
M. Gillespie not out 1
Extras: (lb-4 nb-4 w-4) 12
Total: (for 8 wickets, 50 overs) 285

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-169, 3-222, 4-229, 5-229, 6-257, 7-262, 8-280

Did not bat: M. Mason

Bowling: C. Vaas 10 - 0 - 50 - 3 (nb-3 w-1), L. Malinga 10 - 0 - 66 - 2 (nb-1), D. Fernando 5 - 0 - 43 - 1 (w-1), M. Muralitharan 10 - 0 - 48 - 1 (w-2), S. Jayasuriya 10 - 0 - 42 – 0, T. Dilshan 5 - 0 - 32 – 0.

Sri Lanka:
U. Tharanga c McCullum b Franklin 68
S. Jayasuriya c Mason b Franklin 111
M. Jayawardene not out 34 K. Sangakkara c&b Vettori 36
M. Atapattu not out 10
Extras: (b-3 lb-3 nb-12 w-12) 30
Total: (for 3 wickets, 40 overs) 289

Fall of wickets: 1-201, 2-201, 3-271

Did not bat: C. Silva, T. Dilshan, C. Vaas, D. Fernando, L. Malinga, M. Muralitharan

Bowling: J. Franklin 10 - 0 - 69 - 2 (nb-4), M. Mason 6 - 0 - 60 - 0 (w-1), M. Gillespie 9 - 0 - 64 - 0 (nb-7 w-3), A. Adams 7 - 0 - 54 - 0 (w-1), D. Vettori 8 - 0 - 36 - 1 (w-1) .

Result: Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets