The victory made Australia's task of qualifying for the semi-finals doubly difficult. In tomorrow's crunch clash, Aussies will have to defeat pre-tournament favourites South Africa. If they win Australia join Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand. But their defeat will push Zimbabwe through to the semis.

The Kiwis were in some trouble when Chris Cairns fell leaving them more than run-a-ball chase. But Parore's innings helped New Zealand win the match with more than an over to spare.

The New Zealand innings was build around two good innings -- a fine 74 by Matt Horne and an unbeaten 60 from Roger Twose.

Nathan Astle contributed 26 while rookie paceman Debashish Mohanty claimed two wickets for 41 runs off his quota of ten overs.

India rode on Ajay Jadeja's 76 to hit 251 for six. India, already out of thetournament, faltered against a determined New Zealand, who must win to remain in contention for a semi-final spot. Jadeja provided some sparkle by putting on 90 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Mohammed Azharuddin and 54 runs with Robin Singh for the fifth wicket.

Electing to bat, India were down to 97 for three as the top trio of Sachin Tendulkar (16), Rahul Dravid (29) and Saurav Ganguly (29) fell after looking set for a big knocks.

Tendulkar belied hopes of providing a final spark to make up for his surprisingly indifferent run by falling in the sixth over, ending the tournament with an aggregate of 253 runs from seven innings.

Tendulkar looked tentative against the seaming deliveries and was deceived by late movement of Dion Nash's inswinger to be bowled through the gate.

Dravid (29), highest scorer of the tournament so far with 461 runs, show-cased his class with five sweetly-timed boundaries on his way to a fluent 29. New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming took a fine reflex catch at gullyas Dravid tried to cut a rising ball from seamer Chris Cairns.

Ganguly (29), back in the squad after missing out the previous tie against Pakistan due to a knee injury, was never his assured self. Geoff Allott ended his misery, yorking the left-hander, to take his tally to 20 wickets.

With the Kiwis threatening to tighten the screws as Fleming frequently rotated his bowlers, Jadeja (76: 103b, 2x6, 6x4) shunned his natural flamboyance to play a responsible knock in tandem with Azhar (30: 43b, 2x4) to put on 90 runs in 17.4 overs and wrest the initiative.

Jadeja played with great determination and reached his 50 off 82 balls.He, however, grew aggressive in the company of Robin Singh who came in with the fall of Azhar, caught by wicket-keeper Adam Parore while trying to pull Gavin Larsen.

Jadeja, granted a reprieve when Roger Twose failed to hold on to a catch off Nathan Astle, straight drove the same bowler for a huge six after reaching his 50 before hoisting Cairns for another six in the slogovers.

Robin Singh (27: 29b, 1x6, 1x4) was equally harsh on Astle, driving him for a ferocious four and then clipping the hapless bowler over square-leg for a six. The pressure was suddenly on the Kiwi bowlers with Nash straying in line to gift away 16 runs in the 45th over as Jadeja and Robin Singh put on 54 in just 6.5 overs.

But India lost momentum at the fag end of the innings with the dismissals of the duo in quick succession.

Jadeja returned to the dressing room, top-edging Cairns to Parore and Robin Singh fell three balls later, run out by the Fleming-Cairns combination after a mix-up with new batsman Javagal Srinath.

Srinath and Nayan Mongia failed to chance their arms in the final two overs, giving New Zealand a game chance of pulling off a victory that would tie them with Zimbabwe at five points and put Australia in a must-win situation in their final clash with South Africa tomorrow.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA

SR Tendulkar b Nash 16
SC Ganguly b Allott 29
R Dravid c Flemingb Cairns 29
A Jadeja c Parore b Cairns 76
M Azharuddin c Parore b Larsen 30
RR Singh run out (Fleming/Cairns) 27
J Srinath not out 6
NR Mongia not out 3
Extras (b4, lb8, w13, nb10) 35
Total (6 wickets, 50 overs) 251
Did not bat: A Kumble, BKV Prasad, DS Mohanty.
FoW: 1-26 (Tendulkar, 5.1 overs), 2-71 (Dravid, 14.6), 3-97 (Ganguly, 22.6), 4-187 (Azharuddin, 40.4), 5-241 (Jadeja, 47.3), 6-243 (Singh, 47.6).
Bowling: Allott 10-1-33-1 (2w), Nash 10-1-57-1 (3nb, 5w), Cairns 10-0-44-2 (2nb), Larsen 10-0-40-1 (1nb, 1w), Astle 7-0-49-0, Harris 3-0-16-0.

NEW ZEALAND

Matthew Horne run out (sub N Chopra) 74
Nathan Astle c Dravid b Mohanty 26
Craig McMillan c Dravid b Srinath 6
Stephan Fleming c Mongia b Mohanty 15
Roger Twose not out 60
Chris Cairns c Kumble b Singh
Adam Parore not out 26
Extras (b4, lb11, w16, nb4) 35.
Total (5 wickets, 48.2 overs) 253.
FoW: 1-45 (Astle, 9.3 overs), 2-60 (McMillan, 13.1), 3-90(Fleming, 21.5), 4-173 (Horne, 34.4), 5-218 (Cairns, 45.1).
Bowling: Srinath 10-1-49-1 (2nb, 1w), Mohanty 10-0-41-2 (1w), Prasad 10-0-44-0 (2w), Singh 4-0-27-1, Ganguly 2-0-15-0 (2nb), Kumble 9.2-0-48-0 (2w), Tendulkar 3-0-14-0 (2w).