January 12, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 8, 1423

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AUCKLAND, Jan 11: Opener Virender Sehwag top-scored with 112, his second century of the series, to guide India to a shaky one-wicket victory over New Zealand in the sixth One-day International on Saturday.

In reply to New Zealand’s 199 for nine, the tourists stuttered to 200 for nine in 48.5 overs after losing their last six wickets for only 16 runs.

Apart from Sehwag, only captain Saurav Ganguly (23) and Rahul Dravid (21) reached double figures while all-rounder Andre Adams finished as New Zealand’s chief wicket-taker with three for 41.

“We were cruising and should have finished it off earlier,” said Ganguly, after his side had slipped from 142 for one in the 32nd over. “It was crazy how we let it get down to the last over.”

India were set to face only 49 overs in their innings — having been docked for a tardy over rate when New Zealand batted — and needed just four runs for victory with three wickets in hand going into the final over bowled by Adams.

Zaheer Khan scored a single off the first ball, Mohammad Kaif swung and missed at the second, Kaif was bowled off the third and Zaheer was run out off the fourth, which was also a wide.

Javagal Srinath scrambled a run off the fifth and Ashish Nehra smashed the next ball over the midwicket boundary to clinch India’s second victory of the series.

Despite a sluggish outfield, Sehwag orchestrated a solid platform in India’s reply, allowing Ganguly to dominate an opening partnership of 70.

Once the India captain was dismissed by Adams for 23, Sehwag accelerated and reached his fifth century at One-day International level in only 129 balls.

He had struck 11 fours and two sixes before being caught by New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming off the bowling of Kyle Mills, having previously survived chances on 35 and 63.

“We gifted the game,” said Fleming. “Our fielding is something we’ve prided ourselves on and we have been a very good fielding unit.

“It was a pretty disappointing performance to drop a quality player twice and miss other opportunities. We’re better than that.”

Earlier, a last wicket stand of 52 gave New Zealand a measure of respectability after the home side’s good start was undermined by the loss of five wickets for 17 runs.

Shane Bond joined Lou Vincent at 147 for nine — after New Zealand had been 130 for four at one stage — and blasted three sixes and two fours in a career-best 31 not out.

Vincent (53 not out) got in on the act and hit a six to bring up his fourth half-century in One-day Internationals.

The match began with the curse of another seaming pitch hitting the New Zealanders when Ganguly won the toss and asked the home side to bat.

The drop-in pitch had sweated under a tent while the rest of Eden Park was drenched over the previous two days to make batting difficult. There was also some good Indian bowling to contend with, particularly from Srinath.

New Zealand hold an unassailable 4-2 lead in the seven-match series and beat India 2-0 in the Test series in December.