A magnificent 163 from Sachin Tendulkar and half-centuries from Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni inspired India to a 58-run win in their third one-day international against New Zealand, in Christchurch.
The Indian batsmen plundered some inviting bowling from the home side, racking up a record-equalling 18 sixes on their way to 392 for four in their 50 overs.
In reply, a maiden one-day hundred from Jesse Ryder gave New Zealand some hope of chasing down the 393 required but the loss of quick wickets undid the good work done by Ryder (105) and stand-in captain Brendon McCullum (71) at the top of the order and despite a late burst by Kyle Mills (54) and Tim Southee (32), the hosts were bowled out for 334 with 29 balls remaining and now trail 2-0 in the five-match series with two games to play.
India's innings was the second-highest total in one-day internationals behind the 413 for five they scored against Bermuda and the highest total made in New Zealand against all countries.
Tendulkar was in imperious form, striking five sixes and 16 boundaries in his 133-ball innings, his first one-day century in New Zealand. But he was forced to retire hurt with what looked like a pulled stomach muscle after the 45th over and did not return to the field for New Zealand's innings.
The bulk of the damage was done during the batting powerplay when Tendulkar and Yuvraj belted 69 runs in the five overs as they moved from 121 for two to 190 for two.
McCullum – standing in for Daniel Vettori who had returned to Auckland for the birth of his first child – opted to use Southee, who had replaced Iain O'Brien, and part-timer Ryder for the bulk of them and they came at a cost with Southee conceding 25 runs from his two overs and Ryder going for 30.
New Zealand's reply got off to a superb start as Ryder and McCullum went after the Indian bowlers early. The tourists' fielding let them down at times with Dhoni dropping a simple catch when Ryder was on 43; the big left-handed opener responded immediately by blasting his second six to bring up his half-century in only 36 balls.
Pathan then dropped McCullum, who was on 38, in the very next over and having been handed that lifeline the stand-in captain made the most of it.
He was eventually run out by Raina for 71 when Ryder opted unwisely to take a quick single.
It marked the start of a batting collapse, with the hosts slumping from 166 for one to 218 for seven as Ross Taylor (seven), Martin Guptill (one), Ryder (105), Oram (seven), Elliott (18) and McGlashan (seven) went in quick succession.
Mills and Butler, who was forced out of the bowling attack with a strained quad muscle, got New Zealand past the 250 mark before Butler (24) was bowled by Yuvraj.
Mills and Southee then gave India a scare with an 85-run partnership before Pathan and Praveen Kumar struck.
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