Wellington, February 27:

Brendon McCullum scored an unbeaten 69 as New Zealand beat India by five wickets today to win their two-match Twenty20 cricket series 2-0.

McCullum batted throughout the 20 overs after India scored 149-6. New Zealand were well positioned with three overs to go, needing 27 runs with eight wickets in hand. But Irfan Pathan put his team back in the match in the 18th over with wickets on successive balls.

New Zealand needed 12 runs with five wickets left in the last over with brothers Brendon and Nathan McCullum at the crease. They took three runs from the first three balls from Pathan before Brendon McCullum smashed two consecutive fours then stole a winning single.