PALLEKELE: The one-off Twenty20 international between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was abandoned due to rain in Pallekele on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka, chasing a rain-revised target of 72 runs off 14 overs, were six for no loss after two overs when play was called off.

New Zealand earlier struggled to score 74-7 after being put in to bat, with Tim Southee top-scoring with an unbeaten 21, including four boundaries in an over off seamer Shaminda Eranga.

Seamers Thisara Perera and Nuwan Kulasekara and 19-year-old spinner Akila Dananjaya each bagged two wickets for Sri Lanka.

The teams will now play five one-day internationals, starting in Pallekele on Thursday.