Johannesburg, Sept. 27: New Zealand’s campaign at the 2009 Champions Trophy regained momentum after their loss to South Africa with a comfortable 38-run win over Sri Lanka at the Wanderers here on Sunday.

Asked to take first strike, New Zealand ran up a mammoth 315/7 — their best against Sri Lanka — riding on a 125-run opening stand between Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum.

Later additions from Martin Guptill, skipper Daniel Vettori and a six-ball blast for 18 by Kyle Mills pushed the total well past the 300 mark, in reply to which Sri Lanka were bowled for 277 in the 47th over.

The result puts Sri Lanka’s progress in the tournament in doubt — a surprise considering that they had brought down hosts South Africa in the opening game of the event — after losses to England and now New Zealand . For New Zealand, the win keeps their hopes alive after a first match defeat at the Proteas’ hands.

Sri Lanka too got off to a flier with Tillekaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya racing to 66 in the eighth over before being separated. No one other than Mahela Jayawardena and all-rounder Nuwan Kulasekara however, stayed at the wicket for any significant length of time, which contributed to their defeat.

Jayawardena played a brisk innings of 77 from 85 balls with six fours and two sixes and Kulasekara was unbeaten on a blazing, career-best 57 (56b, 2x4, 4x6), but the Kiwi bowling chipped away despite an awful fielding display to force the Lankans into submission.

Kyle Mills picked up three wickets and Darryl Tuffey, James Franklin and man of the match Vettori had two apiece.

Earlier, a flier from Ryder (74, 58b, 10x4, 1x6) and his century opening stand with McCullum (42, 5x4) saw New Zealand race to 125 by the 20th over when Ryder was dismissed. Sri Lanka came back hard with Jayasuriya striking two quick blows in the middle to slow the Kiwis up. He removed dangermen Ross Taylor and Neil Broom, but Vettori (48, 48b, 4x4, 1x6) and Guptill (66, 76b, 3x4, 1x6) authored the turnaround before Franklin (28 not out, 21b, 3x4) and Mills (18 not out, 6b, 2x4, 1x6) laid the icing on the cake.

Scores: New Zealand 315 (Ryder 74, Guptill 66, Vettori 48; Jayasuriya 3/39) bt Sri Lanka 277 (Jayawardena 77, Kulasekara 57, Dilshan 41; Mills 3/69)