Kusal Perera cracked a career-best 101 off just 46 balls as Sri Lanka secured a consolation seven-run victory in the third and final Twenty20 match against New Zealand in Nelson on Thursday.

New Zealand's massive win over Sri Lanka saw their net run rate up to +0.743 and almost assured them of a semi-final spot.

"I think inconsistency. I think it would be fair to use that word," Silverwood told reporters.

"I am grateful for the support, especially playing in Bangalore. The crowd chanting my name is something I will never take for granted."

New Zealand's Trent Boult said Thursday "it doesn't get any bigger than taking on India in front of 1.5 billion people" as he counted down to their likely World Cup semi-final showdown in Mumbai.

Trent Boult led an inspired bowling display to help New Zealand down Sri Lanka by five wickets yesterday and move to the brink of the World Cup semi-finals.

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in their last league match on Thursday to all but book their semi-final spot at the World Cup.

Trent Boult led an inspired bowling display to help New Zealand down Sri Lanka by five wickets on Thursday and move to the brink of the World Cup semi-finals.

Sri Lanka slipped to 128-9 before Maheesh Theekshana hit an unbeaten 38 and frustrated the Kiwi bowlers in a 10th-wicket stand of 43 with Dilshan Madushanka, who made 19, before the innings folded in 46.4 overs.

The weather in Bengaluru has been cloudy since the morning with some light drizzle earlier in the day

New Zealand will need to get back to winning ways against Sri Lanka in order to keep their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup campaign on track but the task seems trickier as rain looms over the fixture.

A forecast for rain has added an unknown element to New Zealand's final World Cup group stage match against Sri Lanka in Chennai on Thursday, captain Kane Williamson said.

Tim Seifert was the match-winner for the second straight game as New Zealand clinched the T20 series against Sri Lanka with a tense four-wicket victory in Queenstown on Saturday.

Sri Lanka are convinced they can take 20 New Zealand wickets in the second test starting in Wellington on Friday and tie the series despite losing the motivation of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Tom Latham will lead New Zealand's one-day international team in the three-match series against Sri Lanka later this month with regulars such as Kane Williamson set to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), New Zealand Cricket said on Monday.