PHOTOS: Nail-biting tie in Auckland keeps India's hopes alive

The third one-dayer between New Zealand and India ended in a nail-biting tie at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday.

The hosts hold a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, after victories in Napier and Hamilton.

Chasing a mammoth target, the visitors scored 314 for nine in the stipulated 50 overs. 

- Scorecard

Earlier, a brilliant hundred by Martin Guptill helped New Zealand score an imposing total. 

Put in to bat, the home team was all out for 314. 

Guptill's 129-ball 111 was his fifth ODI hundred and first against India.

The Indian bowlers produced a better performance in the death overs and did not allow the Black Caps to run away with a massive total.

Earlier, Mahendra Singh Dhoni won his third straight toss of the series, and for a third consecutive time chose to field first.

The home team got off to a good start but it wasn't long before Bhuvneswar Kumar struck -- Jesse Ryder (20) playing onto his stumps.

Guptill and Kane Williamson (65), however, gave the New Zealand innings a solid foundation. 

The duo put on 153 runs for the second wicket, the best-ever stand for the wicket for New Zealand against India, overhauling the 138 by Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming (in 2001) at Colombo, and their second highest against any country. 

It was Williamson's his third straight fifty of the series, and the ninth of his career. 

He is New Zealand's most consistent batsman in the series. 

Guptill's ton was his fifth, but first against India.

Corey Anderson, who has shown excellent touch with the bat in the series, was promoted up the order, just ahead of the batting powerplay. 

He promptly dispatched Ravichandran Ashwin for a flat six. 

However, the bowler had the last laugh, cleaning him up three balls later. 

However, the solid foundation laid by Guptill and Williamson ensured New Zealand didn't suffer due to his failure.

India recovered some lost ground towards the end.

They conceded only 81 runs in the last 10 overs.

Only 33 runs came off the second powerplay with two wickets lost therein, and it had set up a good finish for the Indians.

It took some lofty hitting by Luke Ronchi (38) and Tim Southee (26) to help the home team get past the 300-run mark. 

Rohit Sharma (39) and Shikhar Dhawan (28) added 64 runs for the opening wicket, but thereafter, a spectacular batting collapse saw India reduced to 79 for four. 

Anderson was the pick of the Kiwis bowlers with five for 63, taking his tally for the series to 10 wickets. 

Captain Dhoni (50) and Suresh Raina (31) stitched 67 runs for the fifth wicket to keep India in the hunt.

The Indian captain reached his 53rd ODI fifty in the process but was dismissed soon after.

Ravichandran Ashwin (65) and Jadeja than put on 85 runs for the seventh wicket to raise hopes of a stunning victory. 

However, it was Jadeja's 45-ball unbeaten that saved India the blushes of another overseas ODI series defeat.

But the Saurashtra player couldn't take his team home. 

India needed 18 off Corey Anderson's last over for victory but Jadeja and last-man Varun Aaron could get only 17 which tied the game.

Needing just two runs off the last ball, Jadeja got just a single. 

The tie, nonetheless, ensured that India remained in the number one position in the ICC ODI rankings.