Sri Lanka salvaged some pride when they beat New Zealand by 20 runs to win the fifth and final one-day international at Napier today.
New Zealand won the first four games of the series but failed to chase the visitors' 273 for six from 50 overs, being dismissed for 253
in the 49th over.
Peter Fulton's first century, 112 off 131 balls, wasn't enough for the Black Caps, who lost their last seven wickets for 54 runs.
Chaminda Vaas took four for 48 to complete a fine series.
Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu had won the toss for the first time in the series and elected to bat on a McLean Park wicket offering plenty of runs.
Atapattu then top-scored for the visitors with a classy 69 from 68 deliveries but they squandered a royal opportunity to make a 300-plus total.
With 10 overs remaining the tourists were 210 for four but failed to push the pace with a lack of boundaries exposing the lack of lower-order hitting in their line-up.
Kumar Sangakkara stroked 58, his second half-century of the series, while super sub Chris Martin took three for 62 for the hosts.
Shane Bond delivered a great final over, bowling Atapattu, while conceding just one run and finishing with two for 53.
The Black Caps fielded a rejigged team from the 21-run win in Wellington on Friday.
An injured knee forced Scott Styris out. Nathan Astle, controversially dropped after a match-winning 90 in Christchurch was called in.
In other changes, offspinner Jeetan Patel, who made a big impact in his international home debut, was omitted while opener Jamie How making way for Martin.
Sri Lanka made few changes, with Malinga Bandara named super sub while left-arm speedster Ruchira Perera made his first appearance on tour.
Openers Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak made an encouraging start, posting 44 before Tharanga, on 11, sent a flying edge off Martin to Peter Fulton at second slip.
Mubarak followed five runs later when a top-edge carried to Martin at third man off Bond.
Wicketkeeper Sangakkara, who showed some nice touches with his half-century in Wellington, continued with some punishing shots.
He and Tiilakaratne Dilshan belted the attack, racing to 69 from 10 overs with the Black Caps bowlers too short and wide.
They carried the tourists through to 129 before Martin, in his second spell, induced an edge to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, ending Dilshan's breezy 43 run innings.
Sangakkara reached his 50 in 64 balls as he and Atapattu posted 49 for the fourth wicket before Astle, Styris's replacement due to his bowling, tasted success first ball when Sangakkara chipped him to Fulton on 58.
At 178 for four with 17 overs remaining the Sri Lankan's still had a 300-plus total in their sights but the innings stalled after Sangakkara's demise.
Mahela Jayawardene added 30 before Martin took his third wicket, while Atapattu hit his 57th ODI half century in the 47th over in good time from 56 deliveries.
New Zealand took the series 4-1.
* SCOREBOARD: (1st innings only)
Sri Lanka
U Tharanga c Fulton b Martin 11
J Mubarak c Martin b Bond 26
K Sangakkara c Fulton b Astle 58
T Dilshan c McCullum b Martin 43
M Atapattu b Bond 69
M Jayawardene c Astle b Martin 30
R Arnold not out 15
C Vaas not out 1
Extras (2lb, 13nb, 5w) 20
Total (for 6 wkts, 50 overs) 273
Fall: 44 (Tharanga), 49 (Mubarak), 129 (Dilshan), 178 (Sangakkara), 233 (Jayawardene), 272 (Atapattu).
Bowling: J Franklin 10-0-56-0 (10nb), S Bond 10-1-53-2 (1nb, 3w), C Martin 10-0-62-3 (1nb, 1w), D Vettori 10-0-44-0, C Cairns 7-0-44-0 (1nb, 1w), N Astle 3-0-12-1.
- NZPA
Top-scorer Marvan Atapattu of Sri Lanka is comprehensively bowled by Shane Bond. Phil Walter / Getty Images
Sri Lanka salvaged some pride when they beat New Zealand by 20 runs to win the fifth and final one-day international at Napier today.
New Zealand won the first four games of the series but failed to chase the visitors' 273 for six from 50 overs, being dismissed for 253
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