Kumar Sangakkara scored an unbeaten 113 as Sri Lanka posted 287-6 after electing to bat first in the seventh and final one-day international against New Zealand on Thursday.

The impressive knock off 105 deliveries moved Sangakkara to within 11 runs of Australian Ricky Ponting as the second most prolific batsman in ODI history.

Sri Lanka needed the expertise of Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan with New Zealand holding an unbeatable 4-1 lead in the series. The pair put on 104 for the second wicket before Dilshan was caught behind for 81.

In the ODI series, Dilshan has hit two centuries and averaged 66.16 in six innings.

Earlier in the innings, stand-in captain Lahiru Thirimanne (30) had partnered Dilshan to get the innings away to a solid start before he was removed by Corey Anderson with the score at 71. At the fall of Dilshan's wicket Sri Lanka were still looking strong at 175-2 and 17 overs remaining.

As has been the pattern in their previous innings, Sri Lanka were able to make a flying start only to find there was little substance down the order.

Mahela Jayawardene, who opened with a century in game one of the series, went for 14, Seekkuge Prasanna, appearing in New Zealand for the first time made just one, Dinesh Chandimal could only add five. Thisara Perera hit 20 off 12 in some late lusty hitting with Nuwan Kulasekara not out 12.

Corey Anderson was the most successful New Zealand bowler with three for 59 while Tim Southee took two for 50.