NZ level series despite Dhoni genius

Fast bowlers Tim Southee and James Neesham ran through India's middle order to guide New Zealand to a 19-run series-levelling win in the fourth one-day international in Ranchi on Wednesday.

Southee (3-40) and Neesham (2-38) shared five wickets between them to bowl India out for 241 in 48.4 overs.

Earlier opener Martin Guptill scored a gritty half-century to drive New Zealand to 7-260 after electing to bat first.

New Zealand's innings was highlighted by a superb run out of Ross Taylor by Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who flicked the ball behind his back and onto the stumps to catch the Black Caps batsman short of his ground.

"Coming here, we had to decide between dew that may or may not come in versus the deterioration. The dew didn't come in, so that perhaps worked in our favour," NZ skipper Kane Williamson said of his decision to defend the score.

"India is a great side, it is exciting to go 2-2 into the final match."

Southee hurt India's reply with an early wicket but Ajinkya Rahane (57) and Virat Kohli (45) put on 79 runs for the second wicket to steady the chase.

Kohli dominated his stay at the crease with two fours and a six before his innings was cut short by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, who had the star batsman caught behind.

Skipper Dhoni, who is trying to make the number four slot his own, walked out to a rousing welcome in his hometown of Ranchi.

Neesham soon swung into action with two big wickets of Rahane and Dhoni as India's chase began to fall apart.

But it was Southee's double strike in the 33rd over of the innings that completely derailed India's chase with the hosts slipping to 6-154.

Southee got Manish Pandey (12) and Kedar Jadhav (0) off consecutive deliveries to be on hat-trick which was only just averted by Hardik Pandya (9), who did not last long.

But the hosts did not bow out without a fight as Axar Patel (38 from 40 balls) and Dhawal Kulkarni (25no from 26) gave the Black Caps a late scare.

"The number five and six are quite new, they will learn their own way. Some will play big shots, some will take it deep," said Dhoni of India's inexperienced middle order.

"Once they have played 15-20 games, they will figure out what works for them."

Earlier the visitors started off well courtesy of a 96-run opening stand between Guptill (72) and Tom Latham only to lose steam towards the end of the innings.

Guptill went on to complete his 31st ODI half-century as he and skipper Williamson tried to build momentum against a persistent bowling attack.

Guptill, who was named the man of the match, did not make the most of a dropped chance when on 62 as he fell to Pandya 10 runs later.

Mishra ended the obdurate Williamson's stay at the crease after getting the batsman caught by Dhoni for 41.

India's bowlers kept chipping away as the visiting batsmen found it hard to get runs in the final 15 overs, in the process losing wickets at regular intervals.

With the series locked at 2-2, the action now shifts to Visakhapatnam for the deciding fifth and final match on Saturday.