NZ take series to decider

Fast bowlers Tim Southee and James Neesham ran through India's middle order to help New Zealand to a 19-run series-levelling win in the fourth one-day international Ranchi on Wednesday.

Southee (3-40) and Neesham (2-38) shared five wickets between them to bowl out India for 241 in 48.4 overs.

Earlier opener Martin Guptill scored a gritty half-century to drive New Zealand to 260 for seven after electing to bat first.

Southee hurt India's reply with an early wicket but Ajinkya Rahane (57) and Virat Kohli (45) put on 79 runs for the second wicket to steady the chase.

Kohli dominated his stay at the crease with two fours and a six before his innings was cut short by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi who got the star batsman caught behind.

Neesham soon swung into action with two big wickets of Rahane and Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India's chase began to fall apart.

Rahane was setting a good pace after recording his 16th ODI half-century, but failed to convert his solid start into a big score as he was adjudged lbw to a Neesham inswinger. Neesham got Dhoni bowled for 11 in his very next over.

But it was Southee's double strike in the 33rd over of the innings that completely derailed India's chase with the hosts slipping to 154 for six.

Southee got Manish Pandey (12) and Kedar Jadhav (0) off consecutive deliveries to be on hat-trick which was only averted by Hardik Pandya (9), who did not last long.

Earlier the visitors, started off well courtesy of a 96-run opening stand between Guptill (72) and Tom Latham only to lose steam towards the end of the innings.

The action now shifts to Viskhapatnam for the deciding fifth and final match on Saturday.

SCORES IN BRIEF

NEW ZEALAND: 260 for 7 (Guptill 72, Williamson 41, Latham 39; Mishra 2-42)

INDIA: 241 all out in 48.4 overs (Rahane 57, Kohli 45, Patel 38; Southee 3-40, Boult 2-38)

Result: New Zealand won by 19 runs and level 5-match series 2-2

Player-of-the-match: Martin Guptill