A world record sixth-wicket stand by Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott has set up New Zealand's 108-run win in the fifth one-day international against Sri Lanka at Dunedin's University Oval.
The Black Caps racked up an intimidating 360-5, thanks to the pair's unbeaten 267-run partnership and although Sri Lanka started strongly, the asking run rate climbed steadily once mainstay Tillakaratne Dilshan disappeared for 116 early in the 37th over.
Sri Lanka were all out for 252 four balls into the 44th over.
Wellington teammates Ronchi and Elliott combined superbly to resurrect the New Zealand innings after they came together in the 20th over, with New Zealand looking shaky at 93-5.
Ronchi was outstanding in belting 14 fours and nine sixes off 99 balls for 170, while Elliott was more measured in accumulating 104 off 96 balls.
Ronchi took 38 balls to reach his first 50 and 36 for his second before letting fly to rack up his third 50 in just 18 balls.
Ronchi and Elliott's partnership for the sixth wicket beat the previous best mark for all countries of 218, set by MS Dhoni and Mahela Jayawardene for an Asian XI against an African XI in 2007.
It was also the second-highest partnership for any wicket set by New Zealanders, bettered only by Brendon McCullum and James Marshall's 274 against Ireland in 2008.
Black Caps skipper McCullum said the pair had done an outstanding job in reviving New Zealand's innings.
"It was an incredible batting performance by Luke and Grant. After being 90-odd for five, to be able to get us through to that total, it's not witnessed too often."
Trent Boult was the best of the Kiwi bowlers, emerging with 4-44 off 10 overs while Elliott, Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan all picked up two apiece.
McCullum was pleased with the way his bowlers fought back after the Sri Lankan openers started strongly, Lahiru Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan putting on 93 for the first wicket.
"In the end it was decent bowling performance. I thought for a period there we let Sri Lanka dictate the game, and we've got to be a bit better than that," McCullum said.
"But I thought Trent was really good with the new ball - he's bowled really well throughout the series, he just hasn't had a great deal of reward.
"Tim Southee was very good with the new ball, and a couple of other guys chipped in. Overall, the package of our bowling line-up worked pretty well today."
New Zealand lead the seven-match series 3-1, with one match remaining in Dunedin on Sunday before the final game in Wellington next week.
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