New Zealand squared the five-match series 2-2 after winning the fourth One-Day International at Ranchi, with their bowlers turning in a fine performance just when the match was slipping away from them. The Kiwis won the match on Wednesday by 19 runs.
Martin Guptill (72) gave his team a good platform to build on but the Indian bowlers fought back to restrict their opponents to 260/7. India had the match within their grasp when Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli were going strong. But, after a dismal middle-order collapse, India fell short and were all-out for 241.
Kohli and Rahane's partnership had taken India to 98/1 in the 20th over but six wickets fell in the space of 69 runs as Tim Southee (3/40) and his supporting cast punished the complacent Indians. After New Zealand got off to an excellent start, spinners Amit Mishra and Axar Patel brought MS Dhoni's side back in the game with economical bowling displays. When all hope seemed lost, tail-ender Dhawal Kulkarni ran India close to the target. But, New Zealand held their nerve to take the game with eight balls to spare.
The final ODI will be played at Visakhapatnam on October 29.
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