5th ODI: Shami, Pandya dominate New Zealand batsmen; are 104/3 after 25 overs

Indian bowlers rattled New Zealand batsmen to dominate the fifth and final ODI on Sunday.

Pacer Mohammed Shami provided India with the breakthrough in the fourth over to dismiss opener Henry Nicholls as the hosts chase a target of 253 runs. After few overs, Shami struck again to clean bowled Colin Munro for 24 runs. 

Apart from Shami, Hardik Pandya, who performed well with the bat for India, bowled a beautiful delivery to send Ross Taylor back to the pavilion early. 

The hosts' score stood at 104 runs for the loss of three wickets after 25 overs. 

Earlier, Ambati Rayadu's patient 90 and Hardik Pandya's 45-run cameo powered India to a decent 252 total against New Zealand in the fifth and final ODI  at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington on Saturday.

Pandya faced just 22 balls to hit 45 runs which included two boundaries and five sixes. He was caught out while trying to hit a six. 

Rayudu, meanwhile, slammed a crucial half-century to lift India after early strikes. The batsman was going strong against the New Zealand attack was also dismissed while trying to hit a big shot. 

India's current no 4 was sent back to the pavilion 10 runs short to his century which included eight boundaries and four sixes.   

Earlier, Rayudu and Vijay Shankar revived Indian innings after the visitors lost four wickets for just 18 runs in the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand on Saturday. The partnership, however, ended after Shankar was run-out for 45. 

Opting to bat, India lost both its openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan early. The two departed for 2 and 6 runs respectively. 

Relying on skipper MS Dhoni, who returned to the squad after missing two ODIs due to injury, was clean bowled. He faced a total of six balls and made just one run. 

Meanwhile, India's Test sensation Shubman Gill once again failed to score big for his side and got caught off Matt Henry after making just seven runs.

While Matt Henry accounted for Rohit and Gill, Trent Boult dismissed Dhawan and Dhoni.  

Earlier, Martin Guptill was ruled out with a back injury and has been replaced by Colin Munro, who was dropped for the fourth ODI, which New Zealand won, after a string of failures. 

India lead the five-match ODI series 3-1. The inclusion of Munro is the only change in the New Zealand side with swing bowler Tim Southee again unwanted. 

India have MS Dhoni back behind the stumps after the master finisher missed the previous two matches because of a hamstring twinge, and they have also brought back quick bowler Mohammed Shami.

"The average score here is around 230-240, but if you bat well you can get 300," Rohit Sharma said. 

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said he was happy with the toss outcome because he wanted to bowl first "to see if we can get a bit out of the pitch early on".