Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott smashed the world record for the sixth-wicket partnership as they put on an unbeaten 267 to guide New Zealand to a mammoth score of 360-5 in the first innings of the fifth one-day international against Sri Lanka.
Ronchi scored 170 off just 99 deliveries for his maiden ton in one-day internationals, while Elliott also notched a century as he hit 104 off 96 balls to help the Kiwis recover from 93-5 to set the imposing total for the tourists to chase at Dunedin.
Lahiru Thirimanne inserted the home side into bat and his team got off to the perfect start when Nuwan Kulasekara dismissed Martin Guptill with the first ball of the innings.
Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson steadied the ship and made good progress as they reached the 50-run mark in the 11th over, only for McCullum to depart lbw to Kulasekara for 25.
Williamson didn't last much longer as he fell for 26 to the bowling of Thisara Perera to leave the Kiwis at 60-3. Ross Taylor took the attack to the Sri Lankans as he made a quick-fire 20 before he was caught off the bowling of Thirmanne, while Corey Anderson was out for just eight.
The dismissal brought Ronchi to the crease with Elliott, and the two managed to calm proceedings as they edged past the 100-run mark in the 22nd over, but from then it was an onslaught with Ronchi leading the way.
The 33-year-old blasted his half-century off just 38 balls, which included three sixes and three fours as the duo reached their 100 partnership.
Elliott was not as brash about his innings, but he was still effective as he notched his 50 off 59 deliveries to fire his team past the 200-run mark, with plenty of time left in the innings.
Ronchi upped the ante in the final 10 overs as he powered his way to his first century in one-day international cricket off just 74 balls, guiding his team over 250.
The 200-run partnership soon followed for the duo and the next milestone in their historic innings was to come as they passed the 218-run partnership made by MS Dhoni and Mahela Jayawardene, made in an Asia XI against Africa XI in 2007, to become the new record holders.
However, they weren't finished there as Ronchi finished the innings with more fine strokes passing his 150 off 92 balls, while there was still time for Elliott to make his second one-day international hundred before the innings came to an end with the score of 360-5 off their 50 overs.
Simon Sinclair
