Ross Taylor’s ninth one-day international century proved the difference as New Zealand sealed the five-match series against India with a seven-wicket win on Tuesday in Hamilton.
The Black Caps chased down India’s 5-278 in effortless style at Seddon Park, led by Taylor’s unbeaten 112 off 127 balls and 60 to Kane Williamson.
The pair, who have been in sublime form in the five-match series, put on 130 in a well-paced third-wicket stand, sensibly seeing off the threat of India’s spinners and taking advantage of some loose seam bowling.
The hosts reached 3-280 with 11 balls to spare, taking a 3-0 series lead heading into a dead rubber at Wellington on Friday.
They won the first matches at Napier and Hamilton before a tie in Auckland on Saturday.
The fourth match proved the most one-sided of an exciting series, with Taylor ensuring New Zealand stayed in control of the chase after openers Jesse Ryder (19) and Martin Guptill (35) departed in the space of five balls.
A composed Williamson scored his fourth half-century from four innings, giving him 292 runs for the series, while captain Brendon McCullum (49 not out off 36) came off successive ducks in aggressive fashion to steer his side home.
Taylor was especially punishing of deliveries outside off stump, scoring 14 of his 15 boundaries on the off-side, mostly off the seamers.
Spinners Ravindra Jadeja (0-33) and Ravi Ashwin (0-41) were tight in helpful conditions but New Zealand’s cautious approach against them paid dividends.
Jadeja, who ran out Williamson superbly, was also their liveliest batsman, scoring 62 off 54 balls.
That complemented scores of 79 to both opener Rohit Sharma and captain MS Dhoni after the visitors had made a ponderous start.
Dhoni surprised when he chose to bat first, having inserted New Zealand in the three previous games.
The in-form skipper combined with Jadeja for an unbeaten sixth-wicket stand of 127 off 16.5 overs with Jadeja, whacking 100 off the last 10 overs.
New Zealand’s seam bowlers were considerably more accurate than India’s, with Tim Southee (2-36) and Kyle Mills (1-42) effective throughout their 10-over spells.