Kane Williamson’s 121 not out saw the Black Caps chase down 285 on a rain-shortened fifth day in Christchurch.
The hosts needed eight off the final over and scrambled a bye from the last ball to seal a dramatic win as Williams took a single to the Wicket Keeper.
The defeat ended Sri Lanka’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final in June. They needed to beat New Zealand 2-0 in this series to qualify for the final, but now India and Australia will go face-to-face at the oval in June.
The Blackcaps started the day 28-1 needing an additional 257 runs to claim victory. Due to a heavily rain affected first two sessions, Sri Lanka would bowl a maximum of 52 overs in an extended final session.
The hosts slipped to 90-3 before WIlliamson and Daryl Mitchell put on 147 to semingly take the game away from the tourests. But after Mitchell was dismissed for 81 by Asitha Fernando leaving the New Zealand 266-6 needing 19 from just 16 balls.
With eight runs required from the final over, former captain Williamson showed his class, guiding his side to a well-earned victory, after running a bye through to the keeper where despite a direct hit at the non-strikers’ end, Williamson managed to get his bat down just in time.
The second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington starts on Friday.
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