New Zealand have claimed a 102-run victory over Sri Lanka in the fifth one-day international to take a 3-1 lead in their series.
The Kiwis were propelled to a winning platform following a world-record partnership for the sixth wicket by Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi as they put on an unbeaten 267.
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Ronchi notched his maiden one-day international century with a score of 170 while Elliott also reached three figures as the home side set the tourists 361 runs to win.
Skipper Lahiru Thirimanne and fellow opener Tillakaratne Dilshan got off to a promising start in their innings as both players were able to find the boundary with regularity.
The duo brought up their 50 partnership in the 10th over and continued to play positively until the drinks break, but the delay proved to be fatal for Thirimanne as he was out from the first ball after the restart to the bowling of Elliott.
Dilshan began to take the attack to the New Zealand bowlers and brought up his half-century off 54 balls as he powered his side past the 100-run mark, but the visitors were dealt a blow when Kumar Sangakkara departed for just nine.
The 38-year-old continued to drive his side forward with the aid of Mahela Jayawardene to keep up with the ever-rising run rate. Dilshan reached his 20th one-day international hundred from 95 balls, in an innings which included 15 fours and one six.
The match look evenly poised with 14 overs to play with the experienced pair at the crease, but Jayawardene fell for 30 to the bowling of Trent Boult and his dismissal marked a collapse in the Sri Lanka innings.
Dilshan was out for a brilliant knock of 116 off 106 deliveries as his side fell to 215-4, and only Jeevan Mendis managed to reach double figures as Boult along with Mitchell McClenaghan and Tim Southee secured the victory for the Kiwis.
Simon Sinclair
