New Zealand's inexperienced players were starting to show the benefits of the investment made in them by team selectors, coach David Trist said after today's 13-run win over Sri Lanka averted a whitewash.

With batsman Jacob Oram named man of the match, Lou Vincent playing a key hand down the order and bowlers James Franklin and Darryl Tuffey getting among the wickets, there were signs of development showing through.

"We got some consistency from ball one bowling today and we played some good one-day cricket.

"The batting order, like everything else, comes under serious view.

"The inexperienced players are getting better the performance parameters by which we measure that were very satisfying today from a coach's point of view," he said.

Oram had shown what he was capable of when asked to fulfil a specific role and there were other batsmen New Zealand could use in specific roles.

The fact that usual top order batsman Lou Vincent came in at No 8 was vital to the record-breaking 85-run stand in 63 balls with Chris Harris.

"That was a very important partnership in the last 10 overs because we got 80-odd runs," he said.

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