Cricket: Ryder guides Black Caps to consolation win

The Black Caps won the fifth ODI, but India took top honours as the National Bank series winners 3-1 . Photo / Getty Images.

Jesse Ryder had a ball and then battered India into submission as New Zealand cricket's cult hero engineered an eight-wicket win in the one-day series finale at Eden Park here tonight.

Not content with recording career-best figures as India capitulated for the first time on tour, Ryder then ensured Brendon McCullum's early demise was irrevelant as he laid into an increasingly-tetchy Indian bowling attack.

Ryder's whirlwind 63 from 48 balls and another classy cameo from new test opener Martin Guptill - who made a smooth 57 from 50 deliveries - ensured New Zealand made quick work of overhauling India's meager 149.

The consolation victory, achieved with a massive 118 balls to spare, ends a run of five ODI defeats for New Zealand and represents the first time in seven attempts this summer they have bowled India out.

For the first time since beating Australia on February 6 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, it was New Zealand's day.

However, the triumph was ironically welcomed by a minority of a 21,285 crowd that appeared, and sounded, almost exclusively Indian.

Despite the series having already been settled when India took a 3-0 lead in Hamilton, New Zealand at least claim some winning momentum heading into the three test series.

Ryder, who followed his maiden ODI ton at Seddon Park with a 38-ball half century, also indulged in an interesting psychological battle with fiery left arm quick Ishant Sharma as the Indian's unravelled in the field.

Ishant took exception to some heavy-handed treatment, a verbal altercation followed and after the umpires intervened Ryder made his point with a broad bat.

He reached his second ODI half century by thudding an Ishant half volley into the construction site at mid-wicket - his fourth and final six.

Ishant, who took an expensive one for 63 from 7.2 overs, had some satisfaction when Ryder chopped on to his stumps.

Hostilities will resume at Seddon Park on Wednesday.

As New Zealand romped home India's team were unrecognisable from the side who wrapped up the series so emphatically in game four.

New Zealand's attack took only 12 Indian wickets in the previous four matches yet snared all 10 in 36.3 overs under overcast skies today - although two were the product of suicidal running.

Ryder made his first contribution with the ball, taking a career-best three for 29 while Jacob Oram finally stirred with two for 22 - including the crucial wicket of Virender Sehwag.

Oram, who demoted himself from the test squad in order to revive his game at provincial level last week, had a series analysis of none from 125 before he replaced Iain O'Brien after his fourth over cost 20 as Sehwag hinted at launching another demoralising display of power hitting.

But for once Sehwag's plunder was confined to a trio of boundaries and sixes.

Dropped at slip by Ross Taylor when on 34, Sehwag looked in a mood to make New Zealand pay but he top edged an attempted swish as he advanced down the pitch, the ball carrying to mid-on where Scott Styris marked his ODI cameo with a crucial diving catch.

Oram had already removed the dangerous and homeward-bound Suresh Raina in his first over for eight, although it was Sehwag's exit that gave New Zealand an overdue spring in the step.

Once their talisman trudged off in the 12th over for 40 from 27 deliveries, the Indian innings lurched into a tailspin.

Only 11 runs were cribbed from the four-over bowling power play and once Oram and Ryder tightened the screws the run-rate all but evaporated.

Rohit Sharma was the only other Indian to clear the ropes - his six in the 20th over broke a run of 12 overs without a boundary.

He ended stranded on 43 from 74 balls at the premature close - one of only three batsmen to make double figures.

After Oram's two-wicket burst, Ryder applied the clamps when edging out Yuvraj Singh for 11 and he then castled Mahendra Singh Dhoni for nine and Yusuf Pathan for a duck in the same over to have the Indian's reeling at 111 for six - a predicament the young Sharma could not extricate them from.

Ryder's previous best was two for 14 against England in Napier last summer.

- NZPA