The Black Caps have won the second and final test against Sri Lanka in Christchurch by a record 423 runs to clinch a 1-nil series victory.
Tim Southee of the Black Caps appeals for a wicket. Photo: PhotoSport
Trent Boult and Neil Wagner quickly wrapped up Sri Lanka's second innings at Hagley Oval.
Boult trapped Dushmantha Chameera in front after only 10 minutes of play on the fifth day, and while the batsman asked for a review third umpire Rod Tucker confirmed the onfield decision two minutes later to bring the match to an end.
With the first match in Wellington ending in a damp draw, today's victory saw the hosts win a fourth successive test series for the first time.
Captain Kane Williamson said he wasn't aware of the record.
"It's quite a cool thing to achieve, not that we were all aware of it I didn't really know that was the case ...but that wasn't the focus. I think if we do reflect on that a little bit, the positives of the different conditions that we've experienced, the different opposition, all come into the fact that being able to get across the line in a series and achieve that makes it quite special.
"It was nice to make that slight adjustment or step up from the previous game, guys had to work really really hard and in that second innings wickets were really tough to come by but the effort that the bowlers put in enabled us to make those breakthroughs."
The victory was even more impressive given New Zealand had been reduced to 64 for six on the first day, before Tim Southee produced a counter-attacking innings of 68 that pushed their total through to 178.
Southee then blasted the top off Sri Lanka's reply, reducing them to 21 for three. The performance on the first day earned him man-of-the match honours.
"It was nice to get some runs," Southee said. "We needed to post some sort of score and try and hang in there ... for as long as we could.
"I guess 170 in the first innings was a good score on that wicket."
Boult followed up Southee's cameo with a stunning burst of six wickets in 15 deliveries early on the second day, which swung the game in their favour as they took a 74-run lead.
New Zealand's batsmen all got starts in their second innings with Tom Latham (176) and Henry Nicholls (162 not out) notching their first centuries on their home ground as Williamson declared at 585 for four.
Williamson said the pleasing aspect was the way everyone in the team had contributed.
"Throughout this series and all the other series that come to mind where guys have featured. Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls with the bat and I guess the whole bowling group contributed at different times throughout this series and the other ones as well."
He said the key moment for him in the Test was Matt Henry's catch which gave his side their first breakthrough on day four.
"He came on and perhaps being a sub fielder you're not quite feeling the rhythm of the game and it can be disruptive and perhaps he was in the right position or the wrong position we don't know but it went to him and he was fresh as and that was kind of cool."
Williamson said he was really happy with the character the players had demonstrated.
"The attitude that the guys had really showed up in the last two games, it was extremely tough in the last match to get those breakthroughs with the ball but guys were working hard, put runs on the board and were able to achieve similiar things in this match as well in trying conditions as well."
Sri Lanka put up a stronger second innings performance as they sought to either grind out an improbable 660 runs for victory, or bat for more than two days to save the game.
Their resistance was broken late on the fourth day.
After they had battled through to 231 for six at stumps the tourists faced the prospect of having their top batsman Angelo Mathews not appearing again after he retired hurt with a hamstring injury.
Boult wasted little time today in the overcast conditions as he bowled Suranga Lakmal for 18 on the third ball, before Wagner had Dilruwan Perera caught for 22 on the eighth.
Boult then wrapped up the innings at 236 for nine with Mathews unable to bat.
"Disappointed with the way we batted in the first innings but I'm happy with the way we played in the second innings as we fought hard as a team," said Sri Lanka captain Dinseh Chandimal.
"We are a young team, but if we can show the same character as Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews then we should be able to compete."
The two teams now meet in a three-match one-day series starting next Thursday in Mt Maunganui.
- Reuters/RNZ
