New Zealand's most experienced player in One-Day Internationals Chris Harris has seen it all during his 170-match career but is confident the team can still compete against the Sri Lankans.

Tonight's three-wicket win has put all the pressure on New Zealand to win in Auckland on Tuesday, Waitangi Day, if they are to keep the series alive.

Harris added another milestone to his career when becoming the sixth New Zealander to score 3000 runs in ODIs but you get the feeling he would be happier if he could be involved in more wins for the side.

"Obviously we have got to try and remain positive," he said.

"I guess if we can show the same improvement we've shown from the first game to the second game, it should mean we finish just ahead in the next one. We've got to keep our chins up. It's obviously been disappointing," he said.

Harris played out his familiar routine of keeping the lower middle-order together again. It is becoming common place for him nowadays. He was in batting by the 18th over, but scored his eleventh half century in ODIs and backed that up with another improved bowling performance.

During the Zimbabwe series, Harris looked out of sorts but with Daniel Vettori back in the side, and mostly working in tandem with Harris, the guile has returned to Harris' bowling.

"Daniel's obviously in pretty good bowling form and it does make it easier for me and I hope I help him out as well. I do enjoy bowling with him. I think my bowling has improved and that is probably part of the reason," he said.

Because of his long stay at the crease Harris was able to get another look at Sri Lankan ace spinner Mutiah Muralitharan. New Zealand managed to keep the off-spinner wicketless for his 10 overs and they took 40 runs from him.

"I think when he's bowling well he's a pretty difficult customer. I think we were reasonably happy with the way we played him today. He bowled 10 overs for 40 and if we could do that every game, we would take it every time.

"It was a big improvement on Napier where he got five-for. We were looking to try and be positive against him and obviously looking to not lose too many wickets to him. The guys had plans against him and they obviously were working well," he said.

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