Captain Sandeep Singh and veteran Dilip Tirkey found the net in the second half to give India a 2-0 victory over New Zealand [Images] in the fourth and final hockey Test in Auckland on Sunday, and also a series win by the same margin.

Tirkey and Sandeep scored both the goals from penalty corners after a goalless first half.

After the change of ends, the visitors were impressive on their counter-attacks and exposed the lack of experience of the Black Sticks.

India's efforts soon bore fruit with senior-most player Tirkey opening the scoresheet in the 43rd minute through a powerful drive and then Sandeep followed suit in the 67th minute with a precision perfect drag-flick to the top left of the Kiwi goal.

However, the hosts felt that they were little unlucky not to have opened the scoring in the dying stages of the first half when the ball hit the body of an Indian defender, thereby stopping a certain goal.

But the referee ruled out any foul play after Indian players successfully appealed on the grounds that the ball first hit a Kiwi player's foot.

With this win, India pocketed the series 2-0. The visitors earlier won the second Test 2-1, while the first and third Tests were drawn 1-1.

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