New Zealand have started their 2015 campaign on a winning note as they decimated Sri Lanka by 193 runs in the second Test at the Basin Reserve to clinch a whitewash in the two match Test series.
Off-spinner Mark Craig was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed four wickets for 53, with pace bowlers Doug Bracewell and Trent Boult scalping four crucial wickets combined, which included wickets of veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara and skipper Angelo Mathews.
Sri Lanka resumed their second innings on an overnight score of 45 runs for the loss of one wicket on the fifth day. However, Sri Lanka were bowled out for a mere 196 runs against New Zealand's gigantic second innings total of 524, thanks to Kane Williamson's unbeaten knock of 242.
For the tourists, middle-order batsman Lahiru Thirimanne put up a resilient performance, scoring an unbeaten knock of 62 runs, with opener Kaushal Silva scoring a half-ton.
With the series win over Sri Lanka, New Zealand have moved up to the fifth position in the ICC's Test ranking as they swept past both India and Sri Lanka, Stuff.co.nz reported.
New Zealand will now take on Sri Lanka in a seven match ODI series at home before the World Cup campaign kick-off from February 14.