CUTTACK (India), Nov 6: Craig McMillan hit a muscular 82 not out and all-rounder Scott Styris a well-paced 68 to earn New Zealand a four-wicket victory over India in their tri-series one-dayer on Thursday.

McMillan and Styris shared in a superb fifth-wicket stand of 127 to turn the match New Zealand’s way after the visitors had been reduced to 68 for four in reply to India’s 246 for nine on a slow pitch of low bounce.

All-rounder Styris, who had claimed figures of three for 38 in India’s innings, was removed in the 40th over with 51 runs still needed for victory, but McMillan, effectively marshalling the lower order with his 92-ball knock, guided his team home.

Following their win, New Zealand join hosts India on eight points. Australia top the table with 18 points and are already through to the Nov 18 final.

Earlier, Mohammad Kaif top-scored with 64 and tail-ender Zaheer Khan smashed 33 from 13 balls as India finished on 246 for nine from their 50 overs.

Zaheer plundered 20 runs from the final over from quick bowler Jacob Oram, hitting two straight sixes and a four off the last three balls.

Oram failed to take a wicket in eight overs costing 68 runs, leaving his team with a stiff target to chase under lights on a slow, low-bouncing pitch.

New Zealand paceman Daryl Tuffey and Styris took three wickets apiece, while left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori took two for 39.

The 22-year-old Kaif struck his sixth one-day fifty after being promoted to number three and held the top-order together after captain Rahul Dravid elected to bat.

Kaif shared in partnerships of 50 runs for the second wicket with Vangipurappu Laxman and 59 for the third with Dravid after Sachin Tendulkar fell cheaply.

Kaif hit five fours before his patient 108-ball effort ended when he inside-edged a Styris delivery onto his stumps to make it 169 for five.

Vettori, bowling a tight line, had reduced India to 136 for four in the 32nd over when he dismissed Dravid, flicking into the midwicket trap, and Yuvraj Singh, hoisting to deep midwicket for a duck, in the space of three balls.

But left-hander Hemang Badani, playing his first one-dayer in almost two years, made a breezy 41 off 45 balls to take India past 200 mark before Zaheer’s cameo.

Scoreboard

India