New Zealand won the Twenty20 international series with India 2-1 following a thrilling four-run victory in a high-scoring series decider in Hamilton.
Chasing 213 to win, several India batsmen made fast starts to their innings, with Rishabh Pant in particular smashing 23 off his first six balls, but wickets fell at regular intervals and MS Dhoni could only make two before being the sixth man out.
A towering six from Krunal Pandya off the final ball of the 19th over left India needing 16 runs to win, with Pandya and Dinesh Karthik at the crease and looking in good touch.
But Tim Southee bowled a superb final over and a six from Karthik - who turned down a comfortable single from the third delivery in order to keep the strike - off the last ball of the match was too little, too late as the tourists finished on 208 for six.
India captain Rohit Sharma had won the toss and put New Zealand into bat, only to see openers Tim Seifert and Colin Munro get the Black Caps off to an excellent start with an 80-run partnership which was eventually broken when Seifert (43) was stumped by Dhoni off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav.
Munro put on another 55 with captain Kane Williamson before falling victim to the same bowler after top-scoring with 72 from 40 balls, while a quickfire 30 from Colin De Grandhomme helped New Zealand post 212 for four from their 20 overs.
