India's losing streak in 2014 saw them succumbing to another embarrassing defeat at Wellington on Friday, when hosts New Zealand outplayed the visitors yet again, winning the fifth ODI by 87 runs to take home the series 4-0.
Set a daunting 304 to win, thanks to another disappointing performance by their bowlers, India could score just 216 - mainly due to Virat Kohli's 82 and MS Dhoni's 47. Kiwi pacer Matt Henry made a dream debut taking 4 for 38 in his 10 overs, while Kane Williamson backed his fifth consecutive half-century with a spell of 2 for 19.
Indian openers were once again off to a disastrous start as they lost Rohit Sharma for four when he got out after giving an easy chance to Taylor in the first slip off Kyle Mills. Shikhar Dhawan soon followed him into the pavilion after scoring 9 runs off 28 balls. Debutant Henry had him caught by Nathan McCullum at second slip.
Kiwi pacers piled more misery on Indian batsmen as Henry got his second wicket of the match after trapping Ajinkya Rahane plumb in front of the wickets for 2, leaving India at 30 for 3 in the 14th over.
Kohli's 82 was the only saving grace as the visitors failed to put up a fight against the Kiwi bowlers. Rayudu (20) and Kohli added 48 runs for the fourth wicket but Henry got his third of the day when he had Rayudu caught by Williamson at gully. Kohli smashed three maximums and seven boundaries in his gutsy 78-ball knock as he tried to increase the scoring rate soon after reaching his 30th ODI fifty off 60 balls.
