Hamilton: India's cricketers on Tuesday ended a disastrous tour of New Zealand easily losing the seventh and final One-dayer after another insipid batting display, which would have further dented their confidence prior to the World Cup.

Put in to bat first on a seamer-friendly wicket, the Indians struggled to reach the three-figure mark to be all out for 122, failing again to last their quota of 50 overs. New Zealand achieved the target after initial hiccups to win the match by six wickets and the series 5-2.

After registering victories in the last two matches while chasing targets, it was back to square one for the Indians with the batsmen floundering once again when asked to bat first on a wicket that belied expectations and offered generous support to the seamers.

The top six batsmen were back in the pavilion with just 44 runs on the board and it required gutsy performances from Yuvraj Singh and Anil Kumble to carry the team past the three-figure mark.

Yuvraj top-scored with 33 while Kumble made 21, putting on a 49-run partnership for the seventh wicket that saved the tourists some blushes in an otherwise disappointing outing.

New Zealand too lost a few early wickets and was 32 for three at one stage, but captain Stephen Fleming struck timely form to guide his side to the target in just 28.4 overs.

Fleming remained unbeaten on an attractive 60. This was India's seventh defeat in nine matches, including the two Tests, on the tour, in probably the worst preparation for next month's World Cup in South Africa.

Javagal Srinath, who has been outstanding in the One-day series claiming 18 wickets from seven matches, claimed two scalps early in the New Zealand innings, but let go the opportunity of completing 300 wickets in One-day Internationals. He dropped an easy return catch from Scott Styris.

As has been the trend on this tour, the Indian batting problems started early with the first three wickets dismissed for just 17 runs.

Last match centurion Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were dismissed cheaply for four and one respectively before Dinesh Mongia earned a first ball duck. Sehwag attempted a cut against a rising delivery from Kyle Mills and edged a catch to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum.

Daryl Tuffey then gave India a double blow in his fourth over when he sent back Tendulkar and Mongia off successive balls, both the batsmen being caught by Fleming in the slips.

This was the third failure in-a-row for Tendulkar who had missed the first four one- dayers due to injury.

Mongia, who was included in India's World Cup squad in place of V V S Laxman, also failed to make any impression in the three matches he played after joining the team late on this tour.

Captain Saurav Ganguly and his deputy Rahul Dravid tried a recovery exercise but could not carry on for long. Both of them looked comfortable against the New Zealand pace attack but were out within four balls of each other at the total of 44 to leave India in a hopeless position.

And when Mohammad Kaif was dismissed for a duck at the same total, India was staring at the possibility of being shot out for less than its lowest score of 108 against New Zealand.

PTI

Extras:
Scorecard of match 7
Top order crumbles again, India bowled out for 122
Out-of-form Ganguly hopes to hit high road soon
Thatscricket Special: Indians in Kiwiland