Taylor ton delivers series triumph

4th ODI: New Zealand chased down the 279-run target with 11 balls to spare on Tuesday.

India’s insipid seam attack cost them another match, this time a series-losing one, as New Zealand ran away seven-wicket winners in the fourth ODI at Seddon Park here, on Tuesday. Having set the Kiwis a challenging target of 279, India remained in the hunt so long as their spinners plied their trade. But once the tweakers, R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, were eased out of the attack, Ross Taylor’s well-paced, unbeaten 112 and Kane Williamson's fourth half-century of the series boosted their side into a position of strength, upon which they constructed their third victory of the five-match engagement.

A new-look Indian team had earlier posted 278/5 after skipper MS Dhoni elected to bat for the first time in 30 games outside Asia. The skipper and his Chennai Super Kings aide Jadeja were instrumental in their team getting as much as they did. Dhoni’s 73-ball 79 contained brutal conclusive acceleration, while Jadeja’s untouchable 54-ball 62 was decidedly the best knock in an innings that also featured Rohit Sharma’s fortuitous, six-happy 79.