New Zealand's four-wicket win in the fourth one-day international against Sri Lanka on Tuesday shows the value of experience in a tight situation, skipper Brendon McCullum says.
Wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi slammed 24 runs off the 48th over to secure the win with 11 balls in hand as the Black Caps chased down 277 after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first at Saxton Oval in Nelson.
The win gives New Zealand a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series after the third ODI was rained out in Auckland on Sunday.
"It was a really good chase, firstly set up by the back end of the innings with the ball," McCullum said.
"I thought it was a 300 wicket and they were probably looking at getting 320 at one point, so it was a really good effort from the bowlers to give us a score under par."
The Kiwi bowlers had reined in a strong Sri Lankan start, choking the lower order after a 102-run stand for the second wicket between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara.
The visitors were poised for a big finish, but lost six wickets in the final five overs for just 31 runs, all out for 276 with three balls remaining.
Their last four wickets fell for 23 runs as Tim Southee finished with 3-59 off his 10 overs, with Adam Milne (2-28) and Mitchell McClenaghan (2-58) also providing valuable contributions.
Milne bowled seven overs before being forced from the field with a side strain, with the seriousness of his injury unclear until he is assessed on Wednesday.
Ronchi's unbeaten 32 off 15 balls provided the finishing flourish, but Kane Williamson set up the win with his fifth ODI century after New Zealand's run chase looked shaky when they lost openers Brendon McCullum for 11 and Martin Guptill for 20.
Ross Taylor's dismissal for eight left the Black Caps 63-3 after 15 overs, but an 88-run stand for the fourth wicket rebuilt the innings until Grant Elliott's dismissal for 44 early in the 33rd over.
Williamson then built another solid partnership with Corey Anderson, adding 79 for the fifth wicket before he was clean bowled by Thisara Perera for 103 with the last ball of the 44th over.
New Zealand still looked in a good position, needing 47 to win from 36 balls, but a direct hit left Anderson (47) short of his ground an over later and the pressure was back on until Ronchi let fly with three sixes in the 48th over.
McCullum says New Zealand's experience right through the batting order was key to the win.
"I guess the class of Kane, and a really handy partnership with Grant as well, showed how an experienced player can still deal with a tough situation."
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