New Zealand needed less than two sessions on the fifth day to beat Sri Lanka by 193 runs and secure a 2-0 series triumph in Wellington.
After Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell had combined in the first session to reduce Sri Lanka to 110-5, the chances of a win for the tourists appeared to have passed with 280 runs still needed.
Mark Craig put Sri Lanka under further pressure by removing Prasana Jayawardene (10), and the spinner edged the Black Caps closer to victory by taking two wickets in two balls a few overs later to dismiss Dinesh Chandimal (13) and Rangana Herath (0).
Lahiru Thirimanne led the fight for Sri Lanka by finishing on 62 not out in their total of 196, but he was partly responsible for the ninth wicket falling as he called for a dangerous single to expose Suranga Lakmal, who was unable to prevent BJ Watling from flicking the bails off after a throw from Bracewell.
Tim Southee returned to the attack to bowl Nuwan Pradeep for one and hand New Zealand the victory, which takes them up to fifth in the ICC Test rankings.
