Despite posting only 209 and getting bowled out in 42.1 overs, India successfully defended the total to seal a 3-1 series victory with a 22-run win in the fifth ODI in Mount Maunganui on Sunday (November 15). Arshdeep Singh starred with a three-wicket haul while Mohammed Siraj picked up two as New Zealand were bowled out for 187 on a Bay Oval surface that got tougher to bat in the second innings.

Siraj, who returned to the India ODI XI, found some early movement along with Arshdeep Singh, but the New Zealand openers were disciplined enough to see through the initial burst. Siraj, though, managed to end the stand as Tim Seifert handed a catch to debutant Yash Thakur at mid on. Arshdeep ended a watchful second-wicket stand by dismissing Will Young, thanks to an excellent diving catch from Ruturaj Gaikwad. He could have also picked up the wicket of Dean Foxcroft but for a dropped catch by Virat Kohli at second slip. But the left-arm seamer struck soon after, with Kelly playing on.

Siraj then got one to nip back into Finn Allen, getting him bowled for 1, as New Zealand slipped to 83 for 4, with the helpful conditions under lights putting the home team under additional pressure. Michael Bracewell combined with Foxcroft to steady New Zealand, but the partnership ended when Bracewell was dismissed by Nabi trying to put away a short delivery. Thakur bagged his first ODI wicket in the next over as Foxcroft inside-edged a pull onto the stumps, leaving New Zealand at 119 for 6. A watchful stand between Mitchell Santner and Kristian Clarke ensued, with the former also needing some physio help after getting struck on his right hand trying to fend off a short ball from Arshdeep.

Spin was finally introduced when Axar Patel came into the attack in the 36th over. Santner targeted the left-arm spinner, hitting a four and a six to ease some pressure. Clarke then got an lbw decision overturned in Naman Dhir's first over and had a reprieve when Axar failed to collect a throw properly with the batter well short at the non-striker's end. But India found success eventually as Santner, who had clubbed a six off Axar, holed out to deep midwicket off Naman. Arshdeep came back on for his final over and got the wicket of Clarke.

The equation for New Zealand was 37 off 30, with three overs of spin still remaining. Blair Tickner was busy, surviving a run-out scare before edging Siraj for a four. But New Zealand lost their ninth wicket as Jacob Duffy was caught at long on trying to deposit Axar over the fence. New Zealand needed 28 off 18, which became 23 off 12 as Thakur bowled a tight over. Axar wrapped up the game by having Tickner out stumped in the 49th over.

Earlier, Santner won the toss for the first time in the ODI series and asked India to bat. The visitors, who had a poor outing in the previous game, looked to make amends as Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad started building a steady partnership. However, India found themselves in trouble soon enough, with unforced errors costing the top three. Rohit failed to keep a flick shot down and was caught at midwicket off Matt Fisher, departing for 7. Virat Kohli had a short stay, dismissed for 5 when he went after a short and wide delivery from Fisher and edged it to the 'keeper. Ruturaj got an inside edge going for a drive, giving Jacob Duffy his first wicket, as India slipped to 34 for 3.

Axar and Shreyas Iyer had a few lucky breaks with catches going down and run-out opportunities missed. They cashed in as they put on a half-century stand but the partnership came to an abrupt halt as the short ball got the better of Iyer again, with Tickner accounting for the wicket. Axar and Ishan Kishan added 35 before the partnership ended when the all-rounder fell four short of a fifty, chipping a Bracewell delivery to midwicket to leave India at 121 for 5 at the halfway stage of the innings.

A measured stand between Kishan and Naman helped India's progress, with the pair rotating the strike well along with timely boundaries. But an attempt to force the pace resulted in the dismissal of Naman, who went inside out and ended up handing a catch to deep cover off Santner. Santner got another through a soft dismissal, with Auqib Nabi getting caught at short cover.

With wickets falling around him, Kishan decided to take the aggressive route, striking two sixes off Duffy in the 39th over. But he fell in Duffy's next over, slicing a catch to thirdman to depart for 46. Arshdeep and Siraj struck some lusty blows to take India past 200. Arshdeep hit two sixes off Duffy while Siraj got a six and a four off Santner. However, the fun, and India's innings, ended with Arshdeep getting bowled by Duffy in the 43rd over. The last-wicket pair contributed 26 in 10 balls.

Brief scores: India 209 in 42.1 overs (Axar Patel 46, Ishan Kishan 46; Jacob Duffy 3-60, Matthew Fisher 2-28) beat New Zealand 187 in 48.1 overs (Dean Foxcroft 31, Mitchell Santner 24; Arshdeep Singh 3-30, Mohammed Siraj 2-50) by 22 runs.