New Zealand Clinch Series with Huge Win

Dunedin: The New Zealand will head into the ICC Cricket World Cup in February with plenty of confidence after a comprehensive 4-1 series win over Sri Lanka in the ANZ ODI Series.

The victory means the Blackcaps have won three of their last four ODI series, and five of their last 10 in the era when Brendon McCullum has been the skipper.

The home side, who wrapped up the series with one match remaining, set the Sri Lankans 315-8 in the sixth ANZ ODI at the University Oval in Dunedin.

Daniel Vettori became the most-capped ODI Blackcaps in his 280th appearance.

Again the visitors threatened to construct a decent chase – with Kumar Sangakkara the main force with 81 off  66 balls – but ultimately they failed to stay in the series when they finished 120 runs short. When Sangakkara departed in the 38th over, the Lions' run chase was a slow death that eventually finished in the 41st over.

While the Blackcaps are counting down the days to the ICC Cricket World Cup opener on February 14, the Sri Lankans will need to do some soul searching as they were totally outclassed again.

The Man Of The Match Corey Anderson (4-52) was the hero of the bowling effort alongside Daniel Vettori and Trent Boult who were at their miserly best.

Earlier, New Zealand posted a huge 315-8 in the sixth match of their series, as Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson fell just short of centuries.

Taylor and Williamson combined in an 117-run partnership before poor communication the latter run out for 97.

The 30-year-old Taylor sought to make amends by anchoring the hosts through to the final overs and was in sight of his 12th one-day century when he was trapped leg before by Tillakaratne Dilshan for 96.

Corey Anderson added a quickfire 40, while Grant Elliott was 21 not out with Kyle Mills run out for nought on the final ball of the innings.

It was the second successive score in excess of 300 by the hosts at University Oval in Dunedin after they ran up a massive 360 for five in the fifth game on Friday to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the seven-match series.

The 37-year-old Sangakkara, who is expected to retire from international cricket after the World Cup, joined Adam Gilchrist on 472 dismissals as a wicketkeeper when he caught opening batsman Martin Guptill for 28 off Thisara Perera.

Sangakkara, who has also scored more than 25,000 runs in test and one-day cricket, has made 376 catches and 96 stumpings in 396 matches in the 50-over format.

Australia's Gilchrist achieved his mark in 287 one-dayers.

Brief scores
New Zealand - 315/8 (Williamson 97, Taylor 96, Anderson 40)
Sri Lanka - 195 (Sangakkara 81, Anderson 4-52)
Result - New Zealand won by 120 runs
MOM - Corey Anderson (New Zealand)