Brendon McCullum played the role of match-winner for the second game running as he secured a last-ball victory for New Zealand in their Twenty20 international against India in Wellington.

McCullum had steered the Black Caps to a win in the opening game and ensured they swept the series 2-0 when, with scores tied, he just managed to cross-bat an Irfan Pathan delivery over the in-field for the winning single.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had brought the field up for the final ball as the tourists looked to force a 'super over' and while McCullum (69 not out) did not connect cleanly he got enough on the ball to evade the outstretched dive of the retreating Rohit Sharma at mid off.

In pursuit of India's sub-par total of 149 for six, after New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and chose to bowl, McCullum exhibited another piece of measured batting after his unbeaten 50 in the opening game on Wednesday.

His unbeaten 69 off 55 balls complimented Jesse Ryder's brutal 26 off 15 as the home side got off to a flyer, before they showed the necessary composure to creep past the tourists' total.

Earlier on, as in the opening Twenty20 encounter in Christchurch, which New Zealand won by seven wickets, India failed to master the slow-paced local wicket.

Yuvraj Singh's eye-catching 50 off 34 balls was far and away the best effort, although he needed a couple of lives to get there.

It was no surprise that Vettori was again his side's best with one for 21 while Ryder was gave little away in leaking just 18 runs from his four overs.

India opener Virender Sehwag again began in blistering fashion, but his 11-ball 24 was ended when Vettori caught him off Iain O'Brien.

Ian Butler then removed left-handers Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir in quick time and things should have got better for the hosts, but a missed run out and a Neil Broom dropped chance in the same over allowed Yuvraj off the hook.

Yuvraj made the Kiwis pay with four huge sixes and three fours before he was caught on the boundary by Jacob Oram off O'Brien.

The Indians then stuttered to 149 for six, with Dhoni struggling to make 28 from 30 balls.

New Zealand's chase was set up by a 53-run stand between Ryder and McCullum that consumed just 28 balls before the former was bowled by Zaheer Khan for 26 off 22 balls.

The Kiwis lost wickets regularly from then on but with McCullum at the crease they stayed in the game.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was joined by his older brother Nathan for the final over with 12 needed from Pathan.

Singles off the first three balls swung the momentum to India, until a pair of fours down the ground allowed McCullum the relative luxury of needing just one off the final ball.