New Zealand crush poor India

New Zealand A 315 and 194 for 7 (Marshall 43, Guptill 41) beat India A 276 (M Vijay 98, Pujara 80, Redmond 4-30) and 100 (O-Brien 3-30) by 133 runs
Scorecard

New Zealand A ensured their tour of India ended on a positive note with a crushing 133-run win over India A in Chennai. A declaration at 194 for 7 meant India needed 234 to take the series 2-0, but the hosts folded for just 100, meaning New Zealand took a slice of the contest.

Overnight 107 for 3, New Zealand helped themselves along thanks to good innings from James Marshall (43) and BJ Watling (34 not out). Amit Mishra, who took six wickets in the first innings, made it nine for the match with figures of 3 for 65 in 22 overs.

A sporting declaration left the match intriguingly poised but India's second innings was a disaster. New Zealand international Iain O'Brien struck twice early to leave India 2 for 1, removing the in-form M Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, promoted to No. 3, for ducks. Vijay, scored 98 in the first innings, top-edged to Peter Fulton at mid-off trying to pull from outside off stump and Pujara was caught in at second slip attempting to cut.

Bradley Scott, the left-arm medium-pacer, dismissed Sourav Ganguly, cutting the first ball to Watling at gully, and Ravindra Jadeja cheaply and India had slipped to 25 for 5. Sahil Kukreja's 31 was the highest score of the innings and when he went in the 46th over the end was near. O'Brien removed Wriddhiman Saha in the last over before tea. Nathan McCullum and Aaron Redmond, soon to depart for the senior side in Bangladesh, also picked up two wickets each.

Dav Whatmore, India's coach, blamed the top order. "They played too many shots too early," he said. "The loss of early wickets put the pressure on the lower order batsmen."

Fulton, New Zealand's captain, admitted he took a risk in declaring the innings. "I knew it was a bit risky. But down 0-1 we had to win to draw the series. Once India lost two wickets at lunch, I new we had a chance. And after the fall of Raina I realised India cannot go for the win."

After a poor one-day series and defeat in the first Test, New Zealand will leave India on a high.