Mohammad Siraj, Arshdeep Singh Star As India Seal ODI Series Win In New Zealand

Mohammad Siraj and Arshdeep Singh clinch ODI series Win against NZ© AFP

India pacers Mohammad Siraj and Arshdeep Singh ripped through New Zealand's top order with disciplined spells as the visitors recovered from another underwhelming batting display to seal a 22-run victory in the fifth and final ODI on Sunday. The Shreyas Iyer-led side clinched the series 3-1, completing a successful white-ball tour of New Zealand after also winning the preceding T20I series 3-2. The defeat ended New Zealand's run of 11 consecutive ODI series victories at home. The result also offered some relief to Iyer after a difficult tour with the bat, as he managed just one fifty across nine innings in the white-ball leg.

Defending a modest target of 210, India bowled out New Zealand for 187 after being dismissed for 209 earlier in the day.

The ball moved a little more under lights and the surface also offered extra bounce. However, New Zealand's usually aggressive opening pair of Tim Seifert and Will Young adopted a surprisingly cautious approach.

Seifert was denied room by the Indian seamers, and his attempt to force the pace against Siraj in the Powerplay resulted in a simple catch for debutant Yash Thakur.

Young's struggles ended when a back-of-a-length delivery from Arshdeep induced a mistimed pull shot, with Ruturaj Gaikwad completing the catch.

From there, New Zealand failed to build a substantial partnership. Arshdeep added the wicket of Nick Kelly, while Siraj produced a beauty to dismiss the dangerous Finn Allen, with the ball jagging back to hit the top of off stump.

The hosts slumped to 83/4 in the 22nd over.

India missed opportunities to tighten their grip further after dropping Dean Foxcroft and Michael Bracewell, who combined for a 38-run stand for the fifth wicket.

However, the tourists regained control by removing both batters within two overs, reducing New Zealand to 119/6 in the 32nd over.

Captain Mitchell Santner and Kristian Clarke briefly revived the chase with a 39-run seventh-wicket partnership, the highest stand of the innings.

Santner struck a six each off Axar Patel and Naman Dhir, but Dhir had the final say as the New Zealand skipper holed out to Arshdeep in the deep while attempting a slog sweep.

From there, the chase quickly unravelled.

Earlier, India's batting effort followed a similar pattern of uncertainty and poor shot selection.

Having been bowled out for 89 in the fourth ODI, the tourists were expected to show greater application. However, Matthew Fisher struck early to remove Rohit Sharma.

Rohit's lean run in the series continued as a mistimed chip off Fisher was caught by Foxcroft at short midwicket.

Virat Kohli departed soon after, somewhat unfortunate to see a cut shot off a wide delivery from Fisher brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Seifert.

Gaikwad also failed to make a significant contribution, edging Jacob Duffy through to Seifert after the ball seamed back sharply.

India slipped to 34/3, and it could easily have been worse had Foxcroft held on to a difficult chance offered by Axar at cover.

Axar (46) and Iyer added 52 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the innings.

However, Blair Tickner broke the stand when Iyer once again fell to a short-pitched delivery.

Bracewell then removed Axar, with the left-hander pulling straight to Young inside the circle.

Ishan Kishan (46), who struck Duffy for two sixes in an over, and Dhir (22) attempted to rebuild with a 39-run partnership for the sixth wicket before Santner intervened.

The left-arm spinner dismissed Dhir to expose India's lower order.

Kishan eventually perished while trying to accelerate against Duffy, leaving India in danger of failing to reach 200.

Late blows from Arshdeep Singh and Mohammad Siraj, however, pushed India past the 200-run mark and ultimately laid the platform for a series-clinching victory.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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