'The World Cup in India was a shame for us but we've started to win now': Sri Lankan player makes a huge statement after series win over New Zealand

Sri Lanka have won their first ODI series in New Zealand since 2006, and Kusal Mendis believes it is a sign of their resurgence.

The tourists clinched a 3-1 series victory with a six-wicket win in the fourth ODI in Auckland on Friday, and Mendis was one of the stars of the show, scoring 69 off 84 balls.

Mendis said after the match that the victory was a "big statement" for Sri Lanka, who have struggled in recent years.

"We've been through a tough time, but we're starting to win now," he said. "The World Cup in India was a shame for us, but we've shown that we can compete with the best teams in the world."

Sri Lanka's victory is their first ODI series win in New Zealand since 2006, and it is a significant achievement for a team that has been in transition in recent years.

The tourists were without several key players for the series, including Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Suranga Lakmal, but they showed great resilience to win three of the four matches.

Mendis was one of the standout performers for Sri Lanka, scoring 216 runs in the series at an average of 54.00. He was also impressive in the field, taking four catches.

The 27-year-old said that he is confident that Sri Lanka can continue to improve and challenge for major trophies in the future.

"We've got a lot of young players in this team, and we're all learning together," he said. "We're going to keep working hard and improving, and I believe that we can achieve great things."

Sri Lanka's next assignment is a two-Test series against New Zealand, starting on March 9. The tourists will be looking to continue their good form and secure a famous series victory in New Zealand.