In a thrilling conclusion to their three-match T20 series, Sri Lanka edged past New Zealand by 7 runs in the final match on Thursday. The visitors' victory was powered by an explosive century from opener Kusal Perera, who scored 101* off just 46 deliveries - the fastest T20 ton in Sri Lankan history.

Perera's scintillating knock helped lift Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 218/5 after they were asked to bat first. The left-hander's blistering innings included 13 fours and four sixes, as he reached his century in style from 44 balls.

New Zealand got off to a strong start in pursuit of 212, reaching 60-0 in the powerplay. However, skipper Charith Asalanka turned the game around with some excellent bowling and fielding. He dismissed key batsmen Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips in quick succession to leave NZ reeling.

Daryl Mitchell threatened to derail Sri Lanka's chances with four consecutive sixes off Asalanka, but Wanindu Hasaranga and Binura Fernando bowled tightly to restrict NZ's run rate. In the end, it proved too little, too late as the hosts fell short by 7 runs.

Perera's performance earned him the player-of-the-match award. "Scoring a hundred is always special," he said after the match. "When I went in to bat, I got a wake-up call in the first ball and it was good to get on from there."

The win gave Sri Lanka some consolation after losing the series 2-1. For New Zealand, it ended their hopes of a clean sweep. The two teams will now face off in a three-match ODI series starting Sunday in Wellington.

While this result didn't change the overall outcome of the tour, it provided a fitting finale to the T20 leg. Perera's record-breaking century stole the show and capped off an entertaining series between two quality sides.

As the teams look ahead to the ODIs, both will be hoping to carry this momentum into the one-day format. For Sri Lanka, it could be a springboard to better things after a disappointing T20 campaign. For New Zealand, they'll be eager to bounce back strongly after coming so close to completing a series whitewash.

The ODI series promises to be an exciting clash between two evenly matched teams. With the likes of Perera, Asalanka and Hasaranga leading the charge for Sri Lanka, and players like Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell spearheading the Kiwi attack, fans are in for a treat.

Will Sri Lanka be able to build on this morale-boosting win and cause an upset in the ODIs? Or can New Zealand continue their dominance in the longer format? Whatever the case may be, cricket fans are set for an enthralling few days of action-packed cricket in Wellington.

The stage is set for an intriguing battle between these two cricket nations. Will Sri Lanka be able to translate their T20 heroics into ODI success? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - the next chapter in this ongoing saga between Sri Lanka and New Zealand is about to unfold.