CHRISTCHURCH, Jan 1: New Zealand dismissed India’s hapless batting line-up for 108 before winning their third One-day International by five wickets on Wednesday to take a 3-0 series lead.

The home side, having skittled India in 41.1 overs on a bouncy pitch, took just 26.5 overs to wrap up their victory. The drop-in strip, however, will certainly invite scrutiny, with the top individual score of the match coming from Nathan Astle with a run-a-ball 32.

India, whose top score of 22 was made up of extras, also made 108 in the first game of the seven-match series.

Opener Astle, perhaps wary of the surface, opted for attack, charging down the wicket to hit 22 off Javagal Srinath’s third over before being caught in the deep off the same bowler as he tried to launch a delivery out of the ground.

By then Steven Fleming, who made four before being dismissed in the eighth over, and Mathew Sinclair, who made a four-ball duck, had already departed, leaving New Zealand on a vulnerable 50 for three from 13th overs.

Lou Vincent and Craig McMillan, however, put on 33 to all but settle a game which did not feature a single over of spin bowling.

The Man-of-the-Match award went to quick bowler Daryl Tuffey, who took two for 11 off 10 overs, while wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum completed five catches.

Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly had elected to bat and struggled with the bounce — there was little sideways movement — from the start.

After 15 overs they were 25 for two, Virender Sehwag and Ganguly both out to catches behind off Kyle Mills and Daryl Tuffey.

Rahul Dravid, a key member of a batting line-up touted by many as the strongest in the world, made 20 off 59 balls. There were 22 extras, the biggest score of the innings.

Yuvraj Singh, known for his swift scoring, chiseled 12 from 44 deliveries.

India’s batsmen have struggled consistently on their tour of New Zealand, having lost the Test series 2-0.

Scoreboard

INDIA: