Hesitancy and confusion plagued the Black Caps as they battled to a sub-par 248 all out in the second one-day cricket international against Sri Lanka in Hamilton.

Skipper Brendon McCullum won a rare toss and opted to bat, doing his bit in setting up the Kiwis with an 89-ball century.

But he received little support as four middle-order run-outs left the New Zealanders short of the 300-plus total they were eyeing on a Seddon Park wicket which looked full of runs.

McCullum set up New Zealand’s first ODI three-wicket win in Christchurch on Sunday with a quickfire 51 off 22 balls, but was more measured in an anchoring role on Thursday.

His 117 took 99 balls, including 12 fours and five sixes.

The Kiwis again lost opener Martin Guptill early, mistiming a slower ball from Nuwan Kulasekara four balls into the seventh over and lofting a simple catch to Angelo Mathews at mid-off.

Tom Latham didn’t last long, coming in for the injured Kane Williamson at No.3.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath fired in a quicker delivery and Latham, looking to cut, ended up offering a thick edge to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara and was gone for five.

With New Zealand 73-2, McCullum took charge and put on 75 runs with Ross Taylor for the third wicket.

Jeevan Mendis broke the partnership with the first ball of the 31st over, celebrating his 32nd birthday with the coveted wicket of McCullum when he took a smart return catch diving to his left.

Daniel Vettori, replacing Grant Elliott who was unavailable for family reasons, lasted eight balls for seven runs before becoming the first run-out victim, taking an ill-advised single on Mendis’s arm from short midwicket.

Taylor went three overs later, caught by Thisara Perera at short fine leg after top-edging Herath, then Luke Ronchi was run out without facing a ball after Corey Anderson called him through on a tight single.

Anderson was run out himself seven balls later, caught well short after sharp work from Mathews at midwicket left Sangakkara with plenty of time to whip the bails off.

Nathan McCullum was the fourth run-out victim, out for 13 taking a chance on Mahela Jayawardene’s arm from mid off four balls into the 45th over.

Adam Milne added a handy 19 off 27 balls before a late fightback from Trent Boult with two consecutive sixes in the last over lifted New Zealand’s total.