Sri Lanka sprung to life at Saxton Oval on New Year's Eve to down the BLACKCAPS by eight wickets and keep the five-game ANZ ODI Series alive.
A slower pitch and much improved effort from the visitors saw them chase down the BLACKCAPS' 277 run target with 22 balls to spare on a beautiful day in Nelson.
An all-round performance by the bowlers was backed up by some power hitting at the top by opener and Man of the Match Danushka Gunathilaka, while Tillakartne Dilshan (91) and Lahiru Thirimanne (86) ensured the run chase was always under control.
The day began under sunny skies and with stand in BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson winning the toss and choosing to bat to the delight of the home crowd.
Despite a quiet first three overs which yielded just three runs, Martin Guptill and Tom Latham soon got the innings moving with some delightful stroke play.
Guptill looked every bit the top international One-Day run-scorer of 2015 as he breezed to 30 off 28 balls before cutting one to Dilshan at backward point.
That brought Williamson to the crease and he was treated to generous applause on return from a two-game injury layoff.
Williamson and Latham put on 60 for the second wicket in good time before Sri Lankan leg spinner Jeffery Vandersay made a double strike.
That brought Williamson to the crease and he was treated to generous applause on return from a two-game injury layoff.
Williamson and Latham put on 60 for the second wicket in good time before Sri Lankan leg spinner Jeffery Vandersay made a double strike.
Latham was caught at fine leg sweeping and then Ross Taylor fell two balls later for a duck.
Rookie Henry Nicholls joined his captain and the two began to rebuild, but the reintroduction of Chameera nabbed Nicholls for 20.
Williamson would push on to a patient 50 but after losing Luke Ronchi for seven, he himself departed for 59 off 73.
Rookie Henry Nicholls joined his captain and the two began to rebuild, but the reintroduction of Chameera nabbed Nicholls for 20.
Williamson would push on to a patient 50 but after losing Luke Ronchi for seven, he himself departed for 59 off 73.
A handy 30 from 34 by Doug Bracewell and some late hitting by Tim Southee (18 off 4) bumped the total up 276.
That target seemed about par, but it was quickly eaten into as the Sri Lankan openers flew out of the gates.
The 50-run opening partnership came up off just 31 deliveries as Danushka Gunathilaka took it to the hosts, smashing seven fours and four sixes in a brutal 65 from 45 balls.
Thirimanne joined Dilshan and the pair continued to chip away at the total as they combined in a 100-run second-wicket stand.
Taylor provided a glimmer of hope for the hosts when he ran out Dilshan for 91.
The squeeze went on but Thirimanne and new man Dinesh Chandimal were up to the task and knocked off the required runs with 22 balls to spare.
Sadly the subsequent fourth ANZ ODI at Saxton Oval on January 2nd was abandoned after wet weather, holding the five-match Series to 2-1 with the final ODI set for Mount Maunganui this Tuesday.
