Here is a tip. Do not give Luke Ronchi a couple of early sighters unless you want to spend the rest of the afternoon watching the ball sail over the boundary.
The Black Caps wicketkeeper-batsman pummelled an undefeated 170 and combined in an unbeaten 267-run world record sixth-wicket partnership with Grant Elliott (104no) to help New Zealand post its sixth-highest one-day total of 360 for five.
Having been treated to a wonderful spectacle of batting from the home side, a capacity crowd of 4841 watched as Sri Lankan maestro Tillakaratne Dilshan threatened to do the unthinkable at the University Oval.
He led the assault for the visiting side with a fine century - his 20th.
But when he holed out in the 37th over for 116 off 106 deliveries, Sri Lanka was left with too much to do.
Trent Boult (four for 44 - his best return in one-day cricket) and Tim Southee (two for 42) helped unpick the remainder of the innings with a flurry of wickets as Sri Lanka capitulated for 252.
The 108-run win means New Zealand has an unassailable 3-1 lead in the seven-game series. Game six is in Dunedin tomorrow and, by that, time Ronchi's adrenaline levels may have returned to normal.
''To put up a partnership like we did was awesome. It was a lot of fun, a lot of fun,'' Ronchi said.
''It did not feel like I was doing anything out of the ordinary with the way I normally play until the end of the innings when I was trying to swing a bit harder.
''It worked out quite well. I can't complain.''
Nor can we. The 33-year-old Wellingtonian is in the side to do a tidy job behind the stumps and flog the ball to all parts in the last 10 to 15 overs. But he was called on to do a bit more than that yesterday.
The Black Caps had slumped to 93 for five. Elliott is in the side for just that kind of situation and it was reassuring watching the South African-born batsman go about constructing his innings.
Ronchi's approach was perhaps not as reassuring but certainly more exciting.
The aggressive right-hander has a reputation for playing a shot a ball. How nice it was of spinner Jeevan Mendis to offer up a couple of long hops early on which Ronchi dutifully dispatched to the midwicket boundary for six.
The second was not hit perfectly but it was the start of something quite magnificent. Sachithra Senanayake got the treatment a few overs later, disappearing over the sight screen.
Ronchi brought up his 50 in imperious style, lofting Suranga Lakmal through cover for four. He needed a life on 95 when the bowler Thisara Perera dropped a very tough return catch.
His maiden hundred came up with a push into the leg side and he leaped his way down the pitch in delight.
The milestone came up off just 74 balls and was the seventh-fastest one-day century by a New Zealand batsman. His 170 included nine sixes 14 fours and came of 99 balls.
''I was pretty happy with that, after the South Africa stuff,'' Ronchi said.
He nicked out on 99 last year while playing against the Proteas. While he will always be in the 99-club he can put it behind him after yesterday's effort.
Elliott, meanwhile, was on track to post his own hundred. He had come into bat with his side 60 for three and then watched helplessly as Ross Taylor clubbed one to midwicket and Corey Anderson was trapped lbw.
Elliott had a reprieve on 47. Sri Lankan captain Lahiru Thirmanne grabbed a diving effort at cover only for the ball to bobble out. But for the most part, Elliott's innings was one of controlled aggression and his ton was good reward.
Earlier, Martin Guptill's critics found their voice. The New Zealand opener nicked out first ball after chasing a wide half-volley.
Just as Guptill's premature departure felt like a hazy memory, Brendon McCullum (25) was trapped in front and Kane Williamson (26) was undone by a rising delivery from Perera.
Thirmanne, who had picked up one wicket in his previous 84 ODIs, claimed the wickets of Taylor and Anderson, which left Elliott and Ronchi a mammoth job ahead. A job well done, too.
