India thrash NZ to win ODI series 5-0

Ravichandran Ashwin led a shocking spin attack as a second-string India beat New Zealand by 8 wickets in the fifth and final one-day international for a 5-0 clean sweep.

The off-spinner grabbed 3 wickets for 24 runs off 8 overs to help the hosts bowl out New Zealand for 103 off 27 overs before India coast to the target with almost 29 overs to spare.

Part-time spinners Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan chipped in with two wickets each as New Zealand was bundled out for their lowest total in one-day internationals against India.

Wicket Keeper Parthiv Patel (56 not out) struck his second fifty in a row and added 97 runs for the 3rd wicket with Yuvraj (42 not out) to guide India to a easy win in the day-night game at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

New Zealand suffered their 2nd series whitewash on the trot, having lost 4-0 to Bangladesh in their past one-day tournament.

For India, it was their 2nd clean sweep at home since their victory over England in 2008.

India's chase was rocked by early setbacks with skipper Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli being dismissed inside the first four overs.

Gambhir edged Nathan McCullum behind the stumps off the third ball of the innings and Kohli was snapped up in the slips off skipper and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.

Patel, back in the Indian team after a six-year gap, survived some early jitters to hit six fours and a six in his 70-ball knock. Yuvraj, named man-of-the-match, smashed six fours and two sixes off 46 balls.

Nothing went right for New Zealand after Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat. Faster Praveen Kumar struck in the first over, removing Martin Guptill with his 4th delivery before left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra dismissed Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in successive overs.

The Indian spinners, led by Ashwin, then got into action, accounting for the rest of the seven wickets to fall.

New Zealand's batsmen struggled in overcast conditions, with a 43-run stand by Jamie How (23) and Scott Styris (24) the only decent effort.

India, fielding a weakened side in the series in order to give rest to their big guns ahead of an upcoming tour of South Africa, proved their bench strength with a clinical all-round performance.

New Zealand are next slated to play Pakistan at home.

Man of the Match : Yuvraj Singh

Man of the Series : Gautam Gambhir