India take last-gasp win

Without Sehwag, India would have lost by miles

6th ODI, Auckland: India 200-9 (48.5/49 overs) beat New Zealand 199/9 (50 overs) by 1 wicket

Full scorecard

India struggled to complete a nail-biting single-wicket win over New Zealand despite a century from opener Virender Sehwag that has seen the tourists cruising.

Chasing just 200 for their second victory of the series, India were 182 for four when Sehwag was dismissed in the 42nd over.

But it took a single from last man Ashish Nehra off the penultimate ball to secure the win.

India's bowlers also let their hosts off the hook, allowing New Zealand's last-wicket partnership to smash 52 runs from the final 20 balls.

Pictures from Auckland

It should have been a comfortable win, but we kept losing wickets in what turned out to be a pressure game

Sourav Ganguly
Indian captain

And a slow over-rate saw the tourists docked an over in their run-chase, which could easily have proved crucial.

Sehwag hit 112 from 139 balls before edging Kyle Mills to Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming at slip with just 18 more runs needed for victory.

Fleming's decision to bring Chris Harris into the attack for the first time, in tandem with Andre Adams, proved inspired as India's tail were unable to keep the runs flowing.

Fleming pocketed Yuvraj Singh off the veteran off-break bowler for eight, off 25 deliveries.

Sanjay Bangar was unlucky to be given out lbw when he was struck high on the pad by Adams.

An uncomfortable moment for Matt Sinclair

But Ajit Agarkar was clearly run out when Lou Vincent at mid-off stopped Mohammed Kaif's single.

With four runs needed off the final over, Eden Park erupted when Kaif swung, missed and saw his middle stump uprooted.

And the tension clearly got to Zaheer Khan, who was run out attempting a suicidal single.

But a leg-bye and Nehra's heave over a ring of close-fielders secured the win for the tourists.

Javagal Srinath did much of the damage early in the match with an impressive three wickets for 13 runs as New Zealand stumbled to 50 for four at one point.

We're disappointed with what we did on the field. It's the one area we've always prided ourselves on

Stephen Fleming
NZ captain

Vincent and Scott Styris shared a patient 81-run fifth-wicket partnership, Styris making a brisk 42.

But the all-rounder's dismissal, lofting to mid-off Sanjay Banjar off the bowling of Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, saw five fall for just 17 runs.

And it took mad last three overs to save the home side's blushes.

Vincent hit an unbeaten 53 off 107 balls, reaching his half-century with a six in the final over of the innings.

Bond, though, was the star of the late flurry, with a quickfire 31 runs off 15 balls including two fours and three sixes.

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New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Mathew Sinclair, Chris Harris, Chris Cairns, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Andre Adams, Daryl Tuffey, Shane Bond.

India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Sanjay Bangar, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Javagal Srinath.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Aus) and Brent Bowden (Nzl)