Never-say-die India fight back in final ODI to to clinch series 3-1

The visitors looked bleak after being skittled out in 42 overs, but their bowlers didn't read the script as they secured a 22-run win to hand the Black Caps their first home ODI series defeat in seven years.

The India pace quartet of Arshdeep Singh (3/30), Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi and Yash Thakur were superb under the lights from the get-go. They bowled wicket to wicket, keeping the scoring low and building pressure.

Will Young (22 from 42 balls), Tim Seifert and Nick Kelly (24 from 45) started steadily for the hosts, but once the top three were back in the shed, India had given themselves a chance.

The experienced Michael Bracewell and Dean Foxcroft steadied the ship, combining for a measured 36 from 57 balls. But twin strikes from Nabi and then Thankur the very next ball had New Zealand 119/6.

Captain Mitchell Santner then began to pull the innings back together with Kristian Clarke, but again two quick wickets - this time from spinner Naman Dhir and Singh - put the hosts well on the ropes.

Tweaker Axar Patel was tasked with cleaning up the tail and he did so with aplomb, picking the final two wickets to wrap up the match and series.

Earlier, regular wickets and an inspired spell from Santer had the usually potent India batting lineup in tatters.

Matthew Fischer dismissed bundled-out Rohit Sharma and talisman Virat Kohli early for single figures, with the latter falling thanks to a superb catch by wicketkeeper Tim Seifert. And when Jacob Duffy found Ruturaj Gaikwad's inside edge, India were reeling at 34/3.

There was somewhat of a recovery made with the combination of captain Shreyas Iyer (22), Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan (both 46). At 160/5 in the 33rd over, there was renewed hope that they could push on to a competitive total.

But Santer changed the game again. The spinner took three wickets in 11 balls, including a double-wicket maiden in the 36th over. It was only thanks to some slogging from tailenders Siraj and Singh that they went past 200, which surprisingly ended up being just enough.

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