There were winds that blew deliveries off course and forced broadcast staff to abandon their posts at the Adelaide end, middle-order batters that fought back, and tailenders who resisted for hours.

"She was pretty blustery out there. Not pleasing conditions to be out there in. I can't remember too many times when the camera was taken down. It just shows the sheer force of the winds and the gusts that were out there today. Some horrible conditions at times. The guys just managed to find a way to get the job done."

With the Basin Reserve surface having flattened out, New Zealand peppered the opposition with short balls - Tickner started the day with a bouncer barrage that dismissed the overnight pairing of Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews, who on the previous tour had batted out an entire fourth day at this venue to save a Test.

This time, however, they were both out in the opening exchanges of day four, out trying to take on the short ball. Sri Lanka had ended the third day 113 for 2, but were 116 for 4 pretty quickly.

This was New Zealand's fourth Test in fairly quick succession after having finished a two-Test series against England not long before Sri Lanka arrived. At the end of a big bowling effort, Southee paid tribute to New Zealand's endurance over their Test season.

"The guys are all a bit weary after a busy wee while," he said. "Test cricket isn't easy. The guys were a bit heavy in the legs, but very pleased to have this game wrapped up.