New Zealand hammered India by 244 runs to keep their chances of drawing the ODI series alive.

India won the first two matches of the five-game series before the third was washed out, but the Black Caps ensured they would head into the final meeting with something on the line.

After being put in to bat, New Zealand made a flying start as Tim Seifert (58) scored a half-century before his opening partner Will Young starred with 125 off 108 balls.

Finn Allen's 41 off 30 in the middle order helped the hosts set a total of 333, and a stunning opening over from Matt Henry quickly stunted India's chase.

Henry (6-27) dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and captain Shreyas Iyer in the first over to leave the tourists 0-3.

Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) quickly followed, before Matthew Fisher (3-31) rattled his way through the middle order with Henry.

India were bowled out for just 89 after 26.4 overs, with Henry getting the final wicket of Gurnoor Brar (2).

What a performance in Tauranga  Matt Henry with a career-best of 6/27 leads the BLACKCAPS to a 244 run win.  @PhotosportNZ https://t.co/rkQq4rEDMs

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 13, 2026

New Zealand stay alive with statement win

After narrow defeats via the DLS method in the first two ODIs, and rain completely wiping out the third, New Zealand have responded in a strong way.

This is their second-biggest victory in men's ODIs by runs, after their 290-run win against Ireland in 2008.

It also marked India's second-largest defeat in the format by runs, just short of their 245-run defeat to Sri Lanka in 2000.

Young's fifth century in ODIs set the tone for a strong performance, and Henry hurled the Black Caps over the line with a career-best 6-27.

Seifert, who recorded his maiden 50 in the format, became the first New Zealand batter to score a half-century in the first 10 overs of an ODI since Martin Guptill in 2015, while he and Young recorded the Black Caps' first opening stand of 50+ in the last eight ODIs.

India will rue their misfielding, with Auqib Nabi twice dropping Young on five, but they can still seal a series victory in the final match on Sunday.