Black Caps complete record win

New Zealand avoided any late snags to beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in Christchurch and take a 1-0 lead in their two-Test series.

The hosts knocked off the required 105 runs soon after tea on the fourth day, reaching 2-107 off 30.4 overs, carried effortlessly across the line by unbeaten pair Ross Taylor (39) and Kane Williamson (31).

Tom Latham fell for 17 while the Test credentials of fellow-opener Hamish Rutherford will continue to be questioned after he spooned a short ball to gully for 10.

Rutherford's highest score in the 26 innings since his debut century against England is 62, the only time he has passed 50.

It shouldn't detract from a Test New Zealand dominated in the wake of captain Brendon McCullum's brutal 195 on Boxing Day.

It was a colourful christening for New Zealand's eighth Test venue, the first Test in Christchurch for eight years.

After reaching 441, his team blasted Sri Lanka out for 138 but had more difficulty ending their follow-on innings at 407 by lunch on Monday.

Tim Southee (4-91) effectively dashed any hopes of a late rearguard from Sri Lanka, who resumed at 5-293.

The paceman nicked out three batsmen with the ball in an irresistible spell and removed the last two with catches.

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Tim Southee in action on day four // Getty Images

Last pair Shaminda Eranga (45 not out) and Suranga Lakmal (16) combined for a free-wheeling 59 as the tourists added 114 off 29 in the morning session.

The key wicket was that of captain Angelo Mathews (66), who added 13 before his snicked hook gave wicketkeeper BJ Watling his fourth catch of the innings.

Trent Boult finished with 4-100, giving him seven scalps for the Test, while offspinner Mark Craig (1-83) finally snared a wicket in his first home Test.

The fifth win from nine Tests in 2014 win caps the most successful 12 months in New Zealand's 84-year Test cricket history.

It surpasses the four wins achieved five times previously - in 1985, 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2008.

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Neil Wagner (L) and coach Mike Hesson celebrate the record win // Getty Images

Stretching back a little further, New Zealand have won seven of their last 11 Tests, a remarkable strike rate given it took 40 years to notch their first seven wins.

Two Tests this year were drawn while the two losses came against the West Indies in Port of Spain and Pakistan in Abu Dhabi before the Black Caps bounced back in both of those series.

Under the captaincy of Brendon McCullum, New Zealand haven't lost a series for 18 months, having notched three wins and two draws from their last five.

That unbeaten sequence will grow to six next week, with the Sri Lanka series comprising just two Tests.

A stiffer challenge will come in two Tests away to England in May.

New Zealand's win at Hagley Oval encapsulates the year, based around McCullum's forthright batting and the incisive new ball combination of Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

McCullum's spectacular 195 helped smash his country's record for runs in a year (1164) while Boult's 34 wickets was one more than Southee, with their hauls bettered by just six other bowlers in 2014.

Batsman Kane Williamson and offspinner Mark Craig also produced some big numbers while BJ Watling led the world's wicketkeepers with 40 dismissals for the year.

YEAR TO SAVOUR

Feb 6-10, Auckland, beat India by 40 runs

Feb 14-18, Wellington, drew with India

June 8-12, Kingston, beat West Indies by 186 runs

June 16-20, Port of Spain, lost to West Indies by 10 wickets

June 26-30, Bridgetown, beat West Indies by 53 runs

Nov 9-13, Abu Dhabi, lost to Pakistan by 248 runs

Nov 17-21, Dubai, drew with Pakistan

Nov 26-30, Sharjah, beat Pakistan by an innings and 80 runs

Nov 26-29, Christchurch, beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets