New Zealand clinched a 1-0 series win over India after the third and final one-day international was abandoned in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Rain forced players from Hagley Oval following the 18th over of New Zealand’s chase, with the home side 104-1 after India had been dismissed for 219 in the 48th over.

Play never resumed, meaning there was no result as the Black Caps needed to face a minimum 20 overs for an official match to be registered.

New Zealand were well placed to push for victory thanks to an opening stand of 97 between Finn Allen (57) and Devon Conway (38 not out).

The outcome nevertheless hands the Black Caps a series win that cements their status as the world’s top-ranked ODI side 10 months out from the World Cup in India.

After winning the first match in Auckland by seven wickets, both remaining fixtures were washed out, including the second game in Hamilton which lasted just 13 overs.

Wicketkeeper Tom Latham said his New Zealand team could take plenty of confidence from Wednesday’s abandoned game.

“I thought we bowled fantastically. Obviously winning the toss there was a little bit of assistance in the wicket and the guys managed to get something out of it,” he said.

“The way Finn and Devon went out and played, I thought they absorbed a little bit of pressure at the start.

“Then I thought Finn played beautifully and it was a great start from those two.”

Allen’s fourth ODI half-century featured eight fours and one six.

His aggression was a contrast to a more watchful approach from the Indian top order.

Recalled pace bowler Adam Milne and allrounder Daryl Mitchell both took three wickets as the Black Caps employed a seam-based attack to good effect on a green Hagley Oval pitch.

Dropped for game two, Milne (3-57) celebrated his recall with a sharp opening spell in which he claimed openers Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan, before later returning to remove danger man Suryakumar Yadav cheaply.

Indian allrounder Washington Sundar scored 51 off 64 balls, reviving an innings which was teetering at 121-5 when he arrived at the crease in the 26th over.

India play the first of three ODIs against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Sunday.

New Zealand’s next assignment is a two-Test series in Pakistan starting just after Christmas.

New Zealand restricted India to a below-par 219 in the first innings in the third and final one-day international at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday. Washington Sundar (51) and Shreyas Iyer (49) top-scored for India as the wickets kept falling with Indian batters suffering a few soft dismissals.

Milne and allrounder Daryl Mitchell both took three wickets as the Black Caps employed a seam-based attack to good effect on a green Hagley Oval pitch, needing 47.3 to knock over the tourists.

Having won the toss, captain Kane Williamson put India to bat first against India. The Black Caps held a 1-0 series lead after winning the opening ODI match in Auckland by seven wickets while the second game was washed out by heavy rain in Hamilton on Sunday.

India fielded an unchanged team from the Hamilton fixture.

Openers Shubman Gill (13) and captain Shikhar Dhawan (28) were off to a rather cautious start and departed within 13 overs. With the exception of Iyer and Sundar, the Indian batters were troubled by the New Zealand bowlers who were moving the ball both ways.

After taking three crucial wickets, Williamson bowled Adam Milne (3/57) whose triple strikes ensured that India were placed on the backfoot. Daryl Mitchell (3/25) also starred for New Zealand, while Tim Southee returned with figures of 2/36.

Washington continued his good batting form in this series and scored a half-century, reviving an innings which was teetering at 121-5 when he arrived at the crease in the 26th over.

Shreyas Iyer fell to another speedster, Lockie Ferguson, for 49 while Mitchell was a surprise performer with his innocuous medium pace, taking 3-25 off seven overs.

New Zealand, who are ranked number one in the 50-over format, were chasing a 14th successive victory on home soil. They had won 10 of their 11 ODIs at Hagley Oval.

Playing XIs:

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (capt), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson.

India: Shikhar Dhawan (capt), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

(With inputs from AFP)