No New Zealand batsman - bar Flynn - even looked like troubling the scorers and it was awful to think that 20 was the highest score from a player in a black helmet.
No 11 Trent Boult came in when the cause was long lost and belted a couple of sixes and his stand 21-run stand with wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk was the highest partnership of the innings.
Some of the dismissals bordered on comical as Tim Southee was stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene as he wandered down the crease, while James Franklin missed a ball that went between his legs and bounced off Jayawardene before he was also stumped.
New Zealand went to lunch at 96-8, which was effectively 70-8 after the Black Caps were behind by 26 on the first innings, and the Sri Lankans finished the job shortly after the interval as Jeetan Patel and Boult were cleaned up as the Kiwis were bowled out for 118.
That total was New Zealand's fourth lowest against Sri Lanka and coach Mike Hesson must be wondering what he can do to turn this result around ahead of the second test that starts in Colombo next Sunday.
With only 93 required for victory, Sri Lankan openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Tharanga Paranavitana, who both began the second innings on a pair, made light work of the total.
Debutant Karunaratne finished unbeaten on 60, while Paranavitana stroked 31 and they barely looked troubled, which showed there were few demons in the pitch.
New Zealand seamer Tim Southee, who took 4-46 in the first innings, didn't take the field during Sri Lanka's run chase as he was hampered by a leg injury, which was a loss to the Black Caps' remote chances of pulling off an upset victory.
Doug Bracewell, who went wicketless in the first innings, was given the new ball in Southee's absence but failed to make an impact, while Boult bowled well again without reward as Sri Lanka cantered to a commanding victory.