Zaheer zaps Kiwis

Zaheer Khan slammed a career-best unbeaten 34 amid mounting tension as India defeated New Zealand by two wickets in the fifth one-day international here Wednesday for their first win on the tour.

The tail-ender played a vital supporting role in a 44-run stand for the eighth wicket with Yuvraj Singh (54) to help his team surpass New Zealand's 168 in a day-night match of fluctuating fortunes at the Westpac Stadium.

New Zealand had already clinched the seven-match series by winning the first four one-dayers.

Left-arm fast bowler Zaheer was in the limelight from the beginning as he grabbed 3-30, including two wickets off successive deliveries in his opening over, to restrict the hosts to a modest total.

He then finished the match under lights with a winning single off seamer Andre Adams to spark rare celebrations in the Indian camp.

He struck one six and three fours in his 42-ball knock as India tasted their first success after losing a two-Test series and the four successive one-dayers.

Zaheer was not the only hero as Yuvraj also played a key role in India's victory with his 10th half-century in 57 matches after star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Saurav Ganguly had failed to score.

The Indian batting yet again failed to click against the New Zealand pace attack as the tourists collapsed to 116-7, with Shane Bond, Scott Styris and Andre Adams each bagging two wickets.

It all began with Ganguly, who was caught behind off the first ball of the innings as he chased and edged an outgoing delivery from Daryl Tuffey.

Bond virtually broke India's back when he yorked Dinesh Mongia (2) and trapped Tendulkar leg-before.

Styris had free-stroking Virender Sehwag (45) caught by Stephen Fleming at first slip just when the batsman had begun to look dangerous. Sehwag cracked nine fours, including three in an Adams over, in his 40-ball knock.

Adams put more pressure on India when he got rid of Mohammad Kaif (1) and Anil Kumble (2), who fell in a peculiar fashion.

Adams attempted a bouncer, but the ball slipped from his hand and fell in his own half. Kumble initially ducked and then tried to smash it on the second bounce, but hit his stumps in the process.

India were nine short of victory when Yuvraj was superbly caught by Chris Harris off left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, but Zaheer kept his cool under pressure to steer his team home.

Earlier, New Zealand were struggling at 3-3 and then 51-5 before being rallied by lower-order batsmen Adams (35) and wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum (35), who shared a rollicking 48-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Adams smashed three sixes and three fours in his 27-ball knock as the hosts scored 117 for their last five wickets.

Fleming (19) became the second New Zealander after Nathan Astle to complete 5,000 runs in his 187th one-dayer, initially dominated by the Indian fast bowlers.

New Zealand made a nightmare start as they lost two wickets for no score after electing to bat.

Zaheer dismissed opener Astle and Mathew Sinclair off successive balls in his opening over and Harris in his next.

Astle was trapped leg-before, while Sinclair was bowled shouldering arms.

Harris survived the hat-trick ball with a defensive push, but did not last long. He contributed one before being trapped leg-before offering no stroke.

Chris Cairns (25), returning to international cricket after nearly eight months due to a knee injury, played an attractive cameo before being bowled through the gate by fast bowler Javagal Srinath (2-24).