MS Dhoni: One of the best performances by our bowlers

India skipper MS Dhoni with the winner's trophy. Pic/PTI

Visakhapatnam: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday lavished praise on his bowlers for the resounding series-clinching win over New Zealand in the fifth and final ODI here on Saturday, describing the effort as "one of the best performances by the bowlers".

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra produced a magical spell to claim 5-18 as India clinched the five-match ODI series 3-2 with a thumping 190-run victory in the final game. It was a perfect Diwali gift for the Indian cricket fans as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men carried the demolition job in style as the spinners made Black Caps' succumbed to their lowest-ever total against India in ODIs. "It was one of the best performances by the bowlers. This was one game where the spinners bowled with a lot of assistance.

"Before this when we bowled first, the wicket was always better to bat in the first half. It was an exceptional performance as there was a bit of dew. The pace at which the spinners bowled was perfect," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"Mishra's beauty is he bowls slow, so as a 'keeper you have time to recover. And in tandem with Axar (Patel), who bowls flat and quick, it was very good."

Dhoni also hailed Virat Kohli for his 76-ball 65, which according to him, set the platform for the 269 for six on a difficult wicket. "I think Virat (Kohli) was superb with the bat. We got off to a decent start. When Rohit (Sharma) got injured, the message was if you think you can't carry on, just play your shots. Once he (Kohli) got out, Rohit gave us some momentum."