Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor steered New Zealand to a convincing eight-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka inside four days of the first Test of two.
In pursuit of 105 following some lower-order resistance from the tourists, the Black Caps slipped to 43 for two at the Hagley Oval.
But Williamson and Taylor, with 31 and 39 not out respectively, guided their side to a fifth format victory in 2014, the best year in their history, courtesy of a partnership of 64.
Sri Lanka, 10 runs away from making their hosts bat again at the start of the day with five wickets in tact, were boosted by an unbeaten 45 from number 10 Shaminda Eranga before they were dismissed for 407.
Angelo Mathews’ side were struggling on 348 for nine, just 45 runs ahead, after losing four batsmen, including the skipper for 66.
Tim Southee, with 4-91, had debutant Tharinda Kaushal, Mathews and Dhammika Prasad caught behind the wicket before taking the catch at long-off to hand spinner Mark Craig Prasanna Jayawardene’s scalp.
But Eranga ensured New Zealand would have to chase a three-figure total by dominating a last-wicket stand of 59 off 57 deliveries with Suranga Lakmal, who contributed 16 before becoming Trent Boult's fourth scalp.
The right-hander flayed seven fours in his 62-ball innings, giving Sri Lanka an outside chance of upsetting the odds.
And their victory hopes were boosted when they took two wickets in the first 11 overs, Tom Latham edging a Kaushal beauty to slip and Eranga having Hamish Rutherford taken at gully.
However, the patient Williamson and Taylor ensured there would be no further alarms for their team with a solid stand that included six fours for the latter.
5 - @BLACKCAPS won five Tests in 2014, the most they have recorded in a year (four wins in 1985, 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2008). Historic.
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) December 29, 2014