Kohli, Dhoni guide India to victory

BANGALORE, India (AP):In-form batsmen Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni combined for a 96-run unbroken stand to help India defeat New Zealand by five wickets on the fourth day of the second Test to complete a 2-0 series victory.

Set a target of 261, Kohli and Dhoni put the chase back on track after India had slipped from 155-2 to 166-5 after tea when they lost Sachin Tendulkar, Cheteshwar Pujara and Suresh Raina in quick succession.

Kohli, who had scored 103 in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 51 with nine fours, while Dhoni followed his first innings 62 with 48 not out that comprised three fours and two sixes.

The pair worked the ball around to build the partnership, but then came up with a flurry of runs to finish the match in style.

Kohli cracked three fours off pace bowler Tim Southee and captain Dhoni smashed a four and a six off spinner Jeetan Patel as India got their last 22 runs in the space of seven deliveries to move quickly to 262-5 and ensure the match did not go to the fifth day.

"It was more Napier than Bangalore, but we knew it would be easier after 40-45 overs," Dhoni said. "Virat's batting was superb and he soaked up the pressure. Our spinners bowled brilliantly to attacking fields during the series and I think our bowling attack hunts as a pack."

Earlier, New Zealand was bowled out for 248 in the morning session, scoring 16 runs in 4.2 overs after resuming at their overnight score of 232-9.

dismissed for 22

Patel was dismissed for 22 by Zaheer Khan, caught behind by Dhoni, while Boult finished the innings on four not out.

"We came with some standards we wanted to maintain, which we did in patches and showed character to come back from a terrible Test in Hyderabad," Taylor said. "The way Kohli and Dhoni batted was outstanding and you can't ask for more in a test pitch."

India won the first Test in Hyderabad by an innings and 115 runs.

India and New Zealand will now play a two-game Twenty20 series at Visakhapatnam on Saturday and Chennai on September 11.