Tom Latham made a mockery of a challenging total at Auckland's Eden Park on Friday, when, chasing India's 306/7, the left-handed batter struck 145 not out off just 104 balls to deflate India's bowling attack that at one point was inspired by debutant Umran Malik's two-wicket burst, but it didn't prove enough.
In partnership for the fourth wicket with skipper Kane Williamson, Latham struck a century and added unbeaten 221 runs to take the home team to victory.
India, who played with five bowlers only, rued missing a sixth option and will definitely mull that over before picking their eleven in the next match, which they must win now to keep the three-match series alive.
Debutant Umran Malik was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 2/66, but the other debutant, Arshdeep Singh, had a forgettable day as he went for 68 runs in 8.1 overs without a wicket. Shardul Thakur was the other wicket-taker in his 9-over spell of 1/63.
It's only the second time New Zealand have successfully chased down a 300-plus-run target against India in ODIs.
This was New Zealand's 13th consecutive ODI win at home, their longest winning run in ODIs at home and also Latham's career highest ODI score.
Earlier, put in to bat by New Zealand, India rode on half-centuries by Shreyas Iyer (80), skipper Shikhar Dhawan (72) and Shubman Gill (50), along with an unbeaten 16-ball cameo of 37 not out by Washington Sunder, to post a challenging 306/7 on the board.
Sundar's big hitting propped up India at the death and provided the flourish the visitors sought in the last five overs to take the total past the 300-run mark.
Before that, it was the 124-run opening stand between Dhawan and Gill that laid the foundation for India after initial struggle against a disciplined New Zealand pace attack.
Gill was dropped by Lockie Ferguson off the bowling of Matt Henry, after which the Indian openers sought to improve the run-rate and looked for boundaries.
India went past the 100-run mark in the 21st over. However, right after reaching his half-century, Gill got out, falling to Ferguson. It turned into a double blow when Dhawan too fell in quick succession as he hit Tim Southee straight to Finn Allen at point. The score at that point read 124/2.
While Pant got off the mark with a four to deep third-man region after he pushed at a Southee length ball, Iyer played the upper cut off a quick Ferguson delivery to begin his innings.
When on 11, Iyer was offered a life by Latham after the batter had attempted the ramp shot against a short Milne delivery.
Pant went for the pull but dragged it onto his stumps, walking back for 15. Suryakumar Yadav got off the mark with a cover drive for four. But two balls later, he took the long walk back, edging Ferguson to Allen at first slip.
Iyer and Sanju Smason (36 off 38 balls) then forged a 94-run partnership to steady the ship until the latter fell to a brilliant catch by Glenn Phillips.
After that it was the Washington Sundar show, as he smashed three fours and as many sixes in his 16-ball stay.
With this win, New Zealand now lead the three-match series 1-0. India had earlier won the rain-hit three-match T20I series 1-0.
(With agency inputs)
