Blackcaps hero Trent Boult says his teammates are very satisfied with their bounce-back performance in the fourth one-day international (ODI) against India in Hamilton on Thursday.
After being humiliated in the first three ODIs, New Zealand bounced back with an emphatic eight-wicket win at Seddon Park.
Boult (5/21) ripped through the India batting line-up, taking his fifth career five-wicket haul in ODIs and equalling a record set by Sir Richard Hadlee, as India were bowled out for just 92 runs.
Ross Taylor made 37 in an unbroken 54-run partnership with new opening batsmen Henry Nicholls (30 not out), as the Blackcaps chased down the total with 212 balls to spare.
The defeat was India's biggest by balls remaining, beating the loss they suffered to Sri Lanka (209 balls remaining in August 2010).
New Zealand might not be able to win the series, but the result restores some much-needed confidence with the players.
"We haven't been where we've wanted to be over the last couple of games," says Boult.
"Obviously a bit frustrating and disappointing to start the series like we did, but we know we've got the skills in the tank, we've got the plans that are set, we know they're good enough for anyone on the day, so that was satisfying.
"We know, when we do all those things well, we're good enough for anyone on the day and it was nice to claw one back in the series.
"We know we've got the gameplan, we know it works. It was just about executing it, which I thought we did nicely today."
Boult admits he was thrilled to find the swing that is the foundation of his bowling success, but adds he was surprised to see the ball move as much as it did.
"We didn't start how we wanted to in the series, we know we needed a big effort in all aspects of the game.
"It's my job, as an opening bowler, to try and lead the bowling attack, so I had my job to do, I'm sure the batters wanted to right a few wrongs and we wanted to field with a lot more energy as well.
"When you've got a bit of rhythm like that, the ball's swinging around for the first time in a wee while, it's probably about making the most of the conditions."
The Blackcaps will look to end the series on a positive note with the fifth and final ODI taking place at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Sunday.
The two teams will also play in a pre-World Cup warm-up match at The Oval in London in May.
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