MOUNT MAUNGANUI: India's batting failed for the second match in a row at Bay Oval on Sunday, as Jacob Duffy and captain Mitchell Santner took three wickets each to bowl the visitors out for 209 in 42.1 overs in the fifth and final ODI. New Zealand, who won the toss and chose to bowl, need 210 to level the five-match series 2-2; an Indian defence of the total would instead seal the series 3-1.

Source: IANS

No Indian batter reached a half-century. Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan top-scored with 46 each, while the senior pair at the top fell cheaply — Rohit Sharma made 7 and Virat Kohli 5, according to Nation Press. ESPNcricinfo noted that Rohit's dismissal closed a miserable personal series of just 30 runs, including two ducks.

Source: Nation Press

209India's total in 42.1 overs
46Top score — Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan
3-47 / 3-60Santner and Duffy bowling figures
210New Zealand's target to level the series 2-2

India were in danger of falling short of 200 before late blows from Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj carried them past that mark, but the total was widely described as inadequate on a largely smooth wicket. The collapse followed Friday's fourth ODI at the same ground, where India were bowled out for 89 and lost by 244 runs — the second-heaviest defeat by runs in their ODI history.

Captain Shreyas Iyer, leading India in the format on this tour, said at the toss that he would have bowled first as well, according to ESPNcricinfo's live report, which also recorded a debut cap for fast bowler Yash Thakur. New Zealand's chase was under way at the time of this report. The two teams move on to a two-match Test series starting November 19 after the ODI leg.

Source: ESPNcricinfo