Astle's score ended his dire run with the bat

Virender Sehwag's 108 was not enough to stop New Zealand winning the second one-day international by 35 runs in Napier.

The victory saw the home side take a 2-0 lead with five matches remaining in the series.

Sehwag, publicly backed by his captain on Saturday after a poor tour to date, scored his fourth one-day century from 111 balls with eight fours and two sixes

After a poor start, skipper Sourav Ganguly falling to to the second ball of the innings from Daryl Tuffey, India recovered thanks to a a second-wicket of 57 between Sehwag and VVS Laxman (20).

However, his desire to keep the strike away from the tailenders saw him run out by Tuffey.

India had just 48 overs available to reach 255 for victory after failing to bowl their 50 overs within the time limit, but they were bowled out in the 44th.

One of Sehwag's back foot shots had earlier seen the end of Rahul Dravid for 18, when Stephen Fleming fielded expertly at backward point.

Yuvraj Singh lasted just two balls before he was deceived by Daniel Vettori and stumped by wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum without scoring.

McCullum, on trial for a World Cup berth, made four catches and a stumping, to equal Adam Parore's New Zealand record set against the West Indies in Goa in 1994.

Nathan Astle had earlier struck 76 and Mathew Sinclair 78 in a second wicket partnership of 136.

But their departures in quick succession caused a catastrophic slump in batting, with Lou Vincent the only other player to make it into double figures.

Sehwag was run out trying to retain the strike

Astle's ended a run of four single figure scores before he was caught by Zaheer Khan off the bowling of Ganguly.

Sinclair's innings was ended soon afterwards when he edged the bowling of Harbhajan Singh to wicketkeeper Dravid.

But Dravid's cause for celebration was limited after a difficult day behind the stumps.

He missed a chance to stump Sinclair on 22 and then dropped an edge from the New Zealander after adding a further 15 to his total.

Astle could also consider himself lucky, after being bowled by Khan for one but being let off by a no ball from the Indian fast bowler.

Vincent's quick-fire 34 off 32 balls only temporarily halted the threat of Khan and Javagal Srinath, who took three wickets apiece.

New Zealand: S P Fleming (Capt), N J Astle, M S Sinclair, C D McMillan, L Vincent, B B McCullum (Wkt), J D P Oram, K D Mills, D L Vettori, D R Tuffey, P A Hitchcock.

India: S B Bangar, V Sehwag, V V S Laxman, S C Ganguly (Capt), R Dravid (Wkt), Yuvraj Singh, M Kaif, Harbhajan Singh, J Srinath, Z Khan, A Nehra.

Umpires: D B Cowie and E A R de Silva