Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 19th one-day international century helped Sri Lanka level the seven-match series against New Zealand at 1-1 after a six-wicket win in Hamilton.
Dilshan struck 116 off 127 to help Sri Lanka ease to their target of 249, as skipper Angelo Mathews finished things off with a boundary in the 48th over.
Earlier, New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum was in his usual swashbuckling form, smashing 117 off 99 balls, but the Black Caps’ effort was not helped by four run-outs in the lower order.
Sachitra Senanayake and Rangana Herath chipped in with two wickets apiece, although New Zealand, who won the first ODI in Christchurch, looked like they would reap the rewards of choosing to bat first.
McCullum began cautiously, especially with fellow opener Martin Guptill departing for 10, but was able to cut loose and plunder 12 fours in his innings.
The skipper reached his century off 88 balls, and combined for 85 with Ross Taylor after Tom Latham fell to Herath.
McCullum looked good to carry his bat, hitting six maximums, but surprisingly failed to negotiate Ajantha Mendis, popping a low return catch in the 30th over.
It was the last meaningful partnership, as New Zealand stuttered with Daniel Vettori, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi and Nathan McCullum all leaving the field run out.
In between the chaos, Taylor had become Herath’s second victim for 34, while Matt Henry stood firm at the end unbeaten on 20, even as Adam Milne and Trent Boult added late scores of 19 and 13 respectively.
Sri Lanka’s response was also to build relatively patiently in the first 10 overs, though Dilshan still managed six boundaries before his partner Dimuth Karunaratne was trapped lbw by Nathan McCullum for 21.
But it only meant Sangakkara joined the party, his three sixes emphasising Sri Lanka’s ease, with Dilshan happy to add a further 11 fours to his own tally.
Sangakkara holed out to deep square-leg off Milne, though Mahela Jayawardene’s five fours soon put paid to any remaining New Zealand hopes of a comeback before he was caught by Taylor off Henry.
Dilshan was out hooking, again to Henry, but by that time all Mathews had to do was strike another half-a-dozen boundaries, the last of which took the visitors over the line.