India defended a total of 209 to beat New Zealand by 22 runs in the fifth and final ODI at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, sealing the five-match series 3-1. New Zealand were bowled out for 187 in 48.1 overs.

The result ended New Zealand’s run of seven years without a home ODI series defeat and gave India its first ODI series victory in overseas conditions under head coach Gautam Gambhir, according to the match report.

India recover after early wickets

New Zealand’s bowlers had India in trouble at 34-3 after dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad early. Rohit made seven and Gaikwad 18. India were eventually all out for 209 in 42.1 overs, with no batter making a half-century.

Axar Patel and captain Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings with a 52-run partnership. Iyer made 22 before falling, and Axar went on to score 46 from 55 balls. Ishan Kishan also made 46, while Naman Dhir added 22. Kishan and Dhir shared a 39-run stand, and late runs from the lower order helped India pass 200.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner and Jacob Duffy each took three wickets. Santner finished with 3-47, Duffy with 3-60, and Matthew Fisher took 2-28. Their efforts kept India from building a larger total.

India’s bowlers finish the job

Chasing 210, New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals and could not reach the target. Dean Foxcroft scored 31 and Santner made 24, but India’s bowlers kept the hosts below 200.

Arshdeep Singh led the attack with 3-30. Mohammed Siraj and Axar each took two wickets, while Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur and Naman Dhir took one apiece. New Zealand were dismissed in the 49th over, leaving India with a 22-run win and the series.

The victory was built on a bowling performance that made India’s 209 enough, despite the early collapse and the absence of a half-century in the innings. For New Zealand, the defeat brought a home ODI series loss for the first time in seven years; for India, it marked a first overseas ODI series win under Gambhir.