Ross Taylor struck his 20th one-day international century and Henry Nicholls his first as New Zealand thrashed Sri Lanka by 115 runs to complete a 3-0 series sweep.

Man-of-the-match Taylor top-scored with 137 while Nicholls blazed an unbeaten 124 off only 80 balls as the hosts ran up 364 for four having been sent into bat at Nelson.

That was the third successive time the Black Caps had scored in excess of 300 batting first in the series, having made 371 and 319 in the opening two matches, and once again it proved beyond the Sri Lankans.

The tourists had looked well placed to mount a challenge at 66 without loss and 107 for one, but two collapses put paid to their hopes.

Lasith Malinga’s men lost three wickets for 10 runs to slip to 117 for four, but it was their second disintegration which was the more spectacular.

They still had an outside chance of victory at 244 for five with the big-hitting Thisara Perera having quickly progressed to 80 with seven fours and three sixes.

However, they then lost five wickets for five runs in 20 deliveries to be dismissed for 249 in the 42nd over, with Lockie Ferguson (four for 40) and Ish Sodhi (three for 40) doing most of the damage.

Provided by Press Association Sport