Sri Lanka's Mathews demands better against New Zealand

The tourists were thrashed by seven wickets in Christchurch in the series opener on Saturday as they fell 1-0 behind in the five-match series.

They return to Hagley Oval on Monday looking for a response to the heavy defeat.

Sri Lanka opted to bat first and were reduced to 27-5 before reaching 188, but Martin Guptill (79) and Brendon McCullum (55) quickly took the game away from them.

Mathews said he was looking for better from his bowlers in the second ODI to avoid allowing the hosts to make another good start.

"It's not easy to bowl at Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill," he said.

"They are power hitters and they go after the bowling from the very beginning. We just need to bowl in the right areas more often."

Guptill and McCullum put on 108 for the first wicket before the latter fell in the 11th over having set up the chase.

Matt Henry had done the damage with the ball, taking 4-49 as Sri Lanka were put on the back foot early.

Only Milinda Siriwardana (66) and Nuwan Kulasekara (58) delivered with the bat, but it was too late after the awful start.

Even without resting pacemen Tim Southee and Trent Boult, New Zealand were in control and will expect more of the same.

An improved display from Sri Lanka may at least make it more challenging for the hosts, who will expect to double their series lead.