Sri Lanka player Kusal Perera Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
A quick-fire maiden T20 century for Sri Lanka's Kusal Perera set New Zealand the highest run chase in T20 internationals and the home side came close - but could not get over the line.
Sri Lanka won the final game of the three-match series by seven runs after challenging New Zealand to chase 219 for victory.
New Zealand had already wrapped up the series with two wins in the first two games in Mt Maunganui.
Overnight rain delayed the start of play in the third match by half an hour in Nelson today.
Black Caps and members of the New Zealand Police force during the 3rd T20 match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Saxton Oval, Nelson. Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
A commemorative photo was taken with players and police officers before the match following the death of long-serving Nelson police officer Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming on Wednesday. A moment of silence was also held.
After winning the toss the New Zealand bowled first for the first time in the series and made a breakthrough in the third over with the dismissal of Pathum Nissanka for 14 off the bowling of Matt Henry caught by wicketkeeper Mitch Hay who raced down to boundary to take the catch.
Yet another front foot no-ball for Zak Foulkes cost New Zealand when he had Kusal Mendis out for 10 but the batter was recalled. Captain Mitch Santner did get Mendis for 22 in the fifth over.
Jacob Duffy took the third wicket after New Zealand successfully reviewed a not out LBW decision and had Avishka Fernando out for 17.
Foulkes eventually ended captain Charith Asalanka's innings on 46 after he had a 100 run partnership with Perera for the fourth wicket.
Foulkes was expensive, going for 52 runs off his four overs for the one wicket.
The introduction of Daryl Mitchell to the bowling crease in the 19th over lead to Perera's dismissal caught by Rachin Ravindra for 101 off 46 balls - a career best total and his 16th T20 half century.
In reply, Tim Robinson started his innings with intent hitting the second ball for a boundary and with Ravindra amassed 11 runs from the first over.
New Zealand player Rachin Ravindra. Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
Ravindra hit Wanindu Hasaranga for two consecutive sixes to start the sixth over as New Zealand was aware of the required run rate.
Robinson tried to keep the scoring rate up when he holed out to a substitute fielder for 37 runs off 21 balls in the eighth over after putting on 81 runs with Ravindra in the opening partnership.
Mark Chapman did not last long, getting caught for nine runs in the ninth over and Glenn Phillips followed him getting out in similar fashion for six.
Ravindra was out for his highest T20 score of 69 off 39 balls as he set the platform for New Zealand to try and chase the challenging total.
Mitchell hit four consecutive sixes off Asalanka in the 15th over in what was a turning point that swung the momentum New Zealand's way but the Black Caps lost two more quick wickets with Mitchell Hay and Michael Bracewell getting out in the space of four balls as New Zealand teetered in the 16th over.
Mitchell was out swinging for the fence again getting caught in the deep for 35 off 17 which included four sixes and a four.
The home side's lower order fought hard as Santner and Foulkes took it close needing 10 runs off the last two balls.
New Zealand took an unchanged side from their first two wins into the final game which meant Auckland batter Bevon Jacobs and Wellington all-rounder Nathan Smith did not play during the T20 series.
The white ball tour continues with a three-match ODI series starting on Sunday in Wellington.
