Napier: Sri Lanka salvaged some pride from their One-Day series against New Zealand with a consolation 20-run win in the final match on Sunday despite a majestic maiden century by Kiwi Peter Fulton.
Fulton made a classy 112 from 131 balls, scoring all around the ground, but he was let down by the lower order who collapsed dramatically while atempting to close in on Sri Lanka's 273 for six.
New Zealand were dismissed in the 49th over for 253 after losing their last seven wickets for just 54 runs.
Man of the match Chaminda Vaas took four for 48 to complete a fine series while captain Marvan Atapattu top-scored for the tourists with 69 off 68 balls.
It was a welcome return to form for Sri Lanka, providing only their second victory in their last 10 matches and "it felt like winning the World Cup final," Lankan coach Tom Moody said.
There was no hiding the disappointment for New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming who had set his heart on a 5-0 whitewash.
"One of our strengths has been the middle to lower order which have kept us in games and won us games from nowhere, (but it) didn't quite fire today," he said.
"While it's disappointing to lose the game, you certainly wouldn't throw fault at them for one game out of a series when they've been so strong.
"I thought we did enough through Peter's 100, and enough contributing acts to get across the line but Chaminda Vaas bowled well and it was just a blip in what's been a pretty good series."
Fulton's needless run-out with seven overs remaining triggered an avalanche of wickets with Vaas the chief tormentor.
Despite the loss, Fulton, 26, will have fond memories of the series.
Recalled to the New Zealand side after his one earlier appearance produced just nine runs two years ago, he finished as arguably the batsman of the series with scores of 70 not out, 32, 50 and 112 for a series average of 88.
Adding gloss to Fulton's innings was the situation he faced when he reached the crease, with New Zealand teetering at 13 for two after Fleming was out leg before wicket without scoring and fellow opener Lou Vincent fell for five.
After playing himself in, he let rip in the 13th over with three successive boundaries off Vaas.
The first was a crunching blow through long-off, then a hook which sent the ball flying onto the main grandstand roof, before a six over long-on.
He and Nathan Astle shared a third-wicket partnership of 108 before Astle holed out to mid-on in the 22nd over for 47 and New Zealand were 121 for three.
Hamish Marshall joined Fulton to push the score to 199 before the wickets began to tumble.
New Zealand could have faced an even bigger total with a 300-plus target a reality on the McLean Park wicket, but too few Sri Lankans had the batting form to push on.
After winning the toss for the first time in the series, Atapattu chose to bat and his half-century was well backed up by an innings of 58 from wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara.
At 208 for four in the 40th over, the stage was set for a late flourish but the Sri Lankans were stymied by a lack of boundaries.
Shane Bond conceded just one run in the final over, and finished with two for 53 while Chris Martin took three for 62.
Despite the loss in the final match, New Zealand won the five-match One-Day series 4-1.
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