Sri Lanka will benefit from playing in New Zealand in WC

Christchurch, Jan 11 (IANS) Sri Lanka all-rounder Jeevan Mendis believes that the lessons learnt from the opening game defeat against New Zealand here Sunday will help them in their World Cup game against the same opponent Feb 14.

Sri Lanka lost the first One-day International (ODI) by three wickets against the hosts after posting 218 for nine, buoyed by a fine century (104) by veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardene. But it wasn't enough as New Zealand achieved the target with seven overs to spare.

All-rounder Corey Anderson led the home team's run chase with a fine knock of 81 runs.

"It will take time to adapt to these wickets. We're playing a seven-game series so it will help us a lot," said Mendis Sunday, as reported by stuff.co.nz.

Mendis said Sri Lanka could have got up to a defendable total of 240, if they had not lost three wickets in an over to Mitchell McClenaghan late in their innings.

"The positive thing is we adapted to the conditions. We now know for the next game, the wicket was a bit spongy when we started, but we thought if we got 240 it would be a good game," the 31-year-old was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.

Sri Lanka were at a stage comfortably placed at 155 for five with 10 overs to spare, but lost late wickets and were restricted to 218, helped by Mendis's cameo of 2