Trent Boult of New Zealand celebrates after dismissing Suranga Lakmal of Sri Lanka. Photo / Getty
By Niall Anderson at Hagley Oval
The Black Caps have made history – in more ways than one.
It took just 10 minutes to end Sri Lanka's resistance on day five, giving the Black Caps a mammoth 423-run victory – their biggest win by runs in their 88-year test history, and the eighth largest of all time.
It was a worthy way to bring up another major milestone – a fourth straight test series victory, the first time New Zealand have accomplished that feat.
After victories over the West Indies, England and Pakistan, this series triumph was the most dominant of the lot. Only a historic partnership, placid pitch and rain saved Sri Lanka in Wellington, and after some day one wobbles, the Black Caps were always in command in their crushing series-clinching win.
Black Caps captain Kane Williamson said earning a fourth straight series victory was a special accomplishment, and was pleased to see improvements made after the first test draw.
"It's a proud achievement – you're playing in different conditions and having to adjust your game all the time.
"It was nice to perhaps make that slight adjustment or step up from the previous game."
With Sri Lanka resuming on the final day at 231-6 and still needing another 429 runs, there was only likely to be one result, and sure enough, it was over quickly.
After three balls, Trent Boult removed Suranga Lakmal's off-stump, and five balls later, a Neil Wagner bouncer saw Dilruwan Perara lob an attempted hook, with Williamson running backwards to pouch the catch at square leg.
Sri Lanka only offered six further balls of struggle before Dushmantha Chameera was trapped lbw by Boult, and Angelo Mathews, who had retired hurt with a hamstring injury yesterday, decided not to come out to bat in lost cause. It was the smart decision – being unable to run, he would have merely reduced New Zealand's margin of victory, hardly worth the risk of aggravating the injury.
Mathews will miss the upcoming short-form matches, with Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal confirming the experienced campaigner will be out for four weeks with a grade two hamstring strain. Williamson said Mathews' absence did help the Black Caps to overcome Sri Lanka's fight.
"A real shame for Ange to suffer that hamstring injury which did come in our favour. It did open up an end for us, but the guys kept fighting all day.
"Guys had to work really really hard and I think we saw in that second innings, wickets were really tough to come by, but the efforts the bowlers put in were able to make those breakthroughs."
In the end, it would have taken much more than a fit Mathews to stop the Black Caps romping to victory, as they etched two new marks into the record books.
They now turn their attention to three one-dayers and a solitary Twenty20, but considering the purple patch they're in, their run of series victories may well stretch to all formats.
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