Different ground, different surface, different conditions — historic outcome. Daryl Mitchell once again proved to be India’s chief tormentor, hammering his second consecutive century (137, 131b, 15×4, 3×6), while Glenn Phillips complemented him with a scintillating hundred (106, 88b, 9×4, 3×6).

Their belligerent 219-run fourth-wicket partnership proved decisive as New Zealand scripted its first-ever ODI series victory in India, winning the decider by 41 runs at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday.

HIGHLIGHTS | India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI

Chasing 338, India suffered early blows, losing Rohit Sharma in the fourth over to Zak Foulkes and captain Shubman Gill to Kyle Jamieson in the seventh. Shreyas Iyer’s stay was brief, falling to Kristian Clarke, while left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox sent back K.L. Rahul, leaving India in trouble at 71 for four in the 13th over.

Virat Kohli (124, 108b, 10×4, 3×6) then took charge. He stitched an 88-run fifth-wicket partnership along with Nitish Kumar (53, 57b, 2×4, 2×6).

Nitish was eventually dismissed by Clarke and Lennox accounted for Ravindra Jadeja as India slipped to 178 for six. Kohli and Harshit Rana (52, 43b, 4×4, 4×6) threatened to pull off a heist.

The two added 99 runs off just 69 balls before Foulkes accounted for the latter. Clarke ended Kohli’s special knock and with it India’s hopes.

Earlier, after Gill opted to bowl, Arshdeep Singh struck off the fourth ball, dismissing Henry Nicholls for a duck.

Harshit removed Devon Conway – for the third time in the series- in the next over as New Zealand slipped to five for two.

Mitchell and Will Young then rebuilt with composure, soaking up the early pressure. Young attacked with fluent drives and a pull over deep backward point off Harshit before falling to him, ending a 53-run third-wicket stand.

Mitchell found an able ally in Phillips. The pair gradually lifted the tempo, running hard between the wickets and keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Mitchell signalled intent by launching Kuldeep Yadav straight down the ground for a six off his first ball.

Momentum decisively swung in the 40th over as Jadeja was taken for 13 runs. Phillips cleared long-on and Mitchell punished a short delivery. Kuldeep, too, bore the brunt, conceding 19 in the following over as Mitchell muscled a full-lengthed ball through the leg side and Phillips followed with a pull and a towering maximum over long-off.

Phillips brought up his second ODI century with a sublime off-side drive. Arshdeep ended the mammoth partnership by dismissing Phillips, while Mohammed Siraj removed Mitchell. However, skipper Michael Bracewell’s 18-ball 28 ensured the visitor posted an imposing total.