New Zealand began 2015 as they signed off last year; winning another cricket test and claiming their third successive home series win.



Led by the offspin of Mark Craig (4-53), the Black Caps skittled Sri Lanka for 196 to complete a 193-run victory in the second test at the Basin Reserve.



Senior paceman Tim Southee shattered the stumps of Nuwan Pradeep on the stroke of tea on day five to finish the job, closing out the series 2-0 ahead of the seven-match one-day series.



Sri Lanka batsman Lahiru Thirimanne was 62 not out after a gutsy fight, but he ran out of partners as a fair few touring batsmen gave their wickets away on a still-good batting surface.



The Black Caps continued to show their fighting qualities after they trailed by 135 on the first innings, before a world record sixth wicket stand of 365 between Kane Williamson and BJ Watling.



Captain Brendon McCullum declared with Williamson on 242 not out to give his bowlers 107 overs to dismiss the tourists, and it took them 72.4 to do it.



New Zealand will finally shift two spots up the world rankings to fifth, passing both India and Sri Lanka.



Since their 2-0 defeated England in May 2013, the Black Caps remain unbeaten in six test series with four wins (West Indies home and away, India and Sri Lanka) and two draws (Bangladesh and Pakistan, both away).



In the past 12 months, taking in the India tour last February, New Zealand won six of their 10 tests in their most successful period.



Sri Lanka resumed on 45-1, still needing another 345 off 90 overs to square the series.



Their slim chances of pushing for an unlikely victory received an early hammer blow that again raised questions over the use of the decision review system.



Star batsman Kumar Sangakkara, fresh from a match-turning 203 in the first innings, was the prized scalp for New Zealand and he fell early in controversial circumstances.



On five, he tried to cut a Trent Boult delivery. The bowler appealed confidently for caught behind while wicketkeeper BJ Watling continued on like nothing had happened. Umpire Richard Illingworth gave it not out but McCullum challenged the decision.



Hot Spot showed no smudge while Snicko, the other technology in use, showed a tiny noise as the ball passed Sangakkara's bat.



It was inconclusive but, as with Rangana Herath's first innings caught behind that was only backed by one of the two methods, the decision was overturned by third umpire Bruce Oxenford.



Sri Lanka's key batsmen wandered off shaking his head, and rightly so. There needs to be more certainty over disputed decisions, surely, before they are changed.



The tourists offered little from then onwards as New Zealand went for the kill.



Opener Kaushal Silva batted nearly three hours for 50 but when and he and skipper Angelo Mathews (8) were both removed by Doug Bracewell just before lunch it was a done deal.



In a handy comeback from 14 months away from test cricket, Bracewell found the edge of both, with Mathews held by a juggling Kane Williamson at gully.



The pitch was still friendly for batting and Sri Lanka's batsmen contributed to their own demise with some loose shots, even though they seemed to have given up trying to chase their lofty target.



Craig enticed a false drive from Prasanna Jayawardene, then was suddenly on a hat-trick when Dinesh Chandimal sparred at one and Herath was trapped lbw first ball. Suranga Lakmal survived the hat-trick delivery but it was just a matter of time.



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