A four-wicket haul for offspinner Mark Craig has propelled New Zealand to a 193-run win over Sri Lanka.

The hosts, who had trailed by 135 runs on the first innings before a world record stand for the sixth wicket put them in control, dismissed the visitors for 196 before tea on the final day.

It is their eighth win in their last 12 Tests and means they take the series 2-0. The win should also push them past India to sixth in the world Test rankings.

Craig finished with figures of 4-53 as Sri Lanka folded meekly after being set 390 to win.

The tourists began the final day on 1-45 but any faint hopes of a push for victory disappeared when their best batsman Kumar Sangakkara became one of four wickets to fall before lunch.

His dismissal was not without controversy with video umpire Bruce Oxenford overturning the on-field decision of Richard Illingworth.

He deemed Sangakkara, who became the fastest player to 12,000 Test runs on his way to his 11th double century in the visitors’ first innings, had got the faintest of edges to a ball from Trent Boult.

Sangakkara was clearly displeased with the decision, and the 37-year-old walked off the Basin Reserve for probably the last time in his career shaking his head in disbelief.

With him went any chance of an unlikely win and when the New Zealand slips cordon pulled off two gems later in the opening session the tourists were staring down the barrel.

Mark Craig dived low to his right to remove Kaushal Silva soon after the opener had brought up is first 50 of the series.

Then Kane Williamson showed no ill-effects from his mammoth 242 not out a day earlier to parry another ball from Doug Bracewell and claim it at the second attempt to remove Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews.

With five wickets in the bag it seemed just a matter of time before New Zealand completed the formalities and they were given a helping hand by more ill-disciplined batting.

Prasanna Jayawardene drove to cover and Dinesh Chandimal hung out his bat, before Rangana Herath fell lbw to give Craig the chance of a hat-trick.

He was denied by Suranga Lakmal who was run out, before Tim Southee cleaned up Nuwan Pradeep to complete the win.

Lahiru Thirimanne was left 62 not out.

New Zealand won the first match of the series in Christchurch by eight wickets.