India produced an all-round performance to beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the third ODI of the five-match series at the Bay Oval on Monday.
With the win, the Men in Blue have snatched a 3-0 win the series against the Kane Williamson-led side with two games to spare.
Opting to bat first, New Zealand were reduced to 59 for three in 16.2 overs by the Indian bowlers. However, Ross Taylor, who came to bat at No. 4, struck a blistering 93-run knock besides also sharing a huge partnership of 119 runs with Tom Latham to bring the hosts back into the game.
Following the duo's dismissal, New Zealand's lower batting order was dismissed cheaply to eventually bundle out for 243 runs with an over to spare.
Mohammed Shami was the pick of bowlers as he finished with the figures of three for 41 while Hardik Pandya made a superb return to the squad following a provisional suspension by taking two wickets while conceding 45 runs.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also added two wickets to their tally.
In reply, openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma provided India with a decent start before the former fell victim of a delivery from Trent Boult and departed for 28 runs.
Sharma then joined forces with skipper Virat Kohli and the duo not only notched up half-centuries but also stitched a 113-run stand for the third wicket to take India closer to the target
Subsequently, Ambati Rayudu (40) and Dinesh Karthik (38) displayed a good batting performance in their short span of time at the crease to ensure the Men in Blue cross the mark in just 43 overs.
For New Zealand, Boult picked up two wickets while Mitchell Santner chipped in with a wicket.
Shami was declared 'Man of the Match' for his brilliant bowling performance.
India, who has now taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, will now take on the hosts in the fourth dead-rubber clash at Seddon Park, Hamilton on January 31.
Here are the highlights:
# India beat New Zealand by 7 wickets, clinch series!
Victory and the series to India. Clinical stuff at Bay Oval. A 7 wicket victory in 43 overs. Scorecard | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/ozCBUkDhRf
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Rayudu and Karthik are batting at their respective scores of 32 and 35 as they look to help India cross the mark as soon as possible. The Men in Blue require 26 runs from 60 balls. India 218/3 (40 overs)
# 14 runs off the last two overs, including a six and boundary from the Indian duo. The Men in Blue have completely taken the game away from New Zealand and are now standing on the verge of clinching the ODI series. India 200/3 (37 overs)
# Rayudu (18) is looking good at the middle and seems to be unaffected by Kohli's dismissal. He is getting good support from Karthik as India require another 58 runs from 15 overs remaining. India 186/3 (35 overs)
# Dinesh Karthik comes to bat for India !
# Wicket! The hosts have bagged a big wicket in the form of Kohli. The Indian skipper once again makes a no-feet drive at a length ball from Boult and Henry Nicholls jumps perfectly to grab the catch at cover. Kohli departs for 60. India 171/3 (32 overs)
WICKET. Virat Kohli carves a Trent Boult delivery directly to a leaping Henry Nicholls at cover. Goes for 60. India now 168/3 in the 32nd over. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND = @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/7wRFhmJ6nl
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Ambati Rayudu is the new batsman in!
# Wicket! New Zealand have finally managed to break a 113-run stand between Kohli and Rohit by removing the latter for 62 runs. Santner delivers a beautiful length ball outside off, prompting Rohit to step out early and allowing Latham to hit the stumps. India 152/2 (29 overs)
# After Rohit, Kohli too brings up his 49th ODI fifty off 59 balls. Santner bowls a short delivery at middle stump and the Indian skipper punches the same to long-on off the back foot to pull back one run and complete his half-century. India 145/1 (27 overs)
# Rohit and Kohli complete a century stand for the third wicket as India require just 104 more runs with nine wickets in hand to clinch the victory. The duo achieved the feat by scoring a six off Ferguson's second delivery of the 26th over. India 142/1 (26 overs)
# Rohit Sharma brings up up his 39th ODI half-century off 63 balls. He achieves the feat by scoring a single off Sodhi's delivery in the 23rd over. The Indian opener is also moving towards a century stand with Kohli (37) as the visitors require another 126 runs to clinch series. India 118/1 (23 overs)
Back to back fifties for Hitman @ImRo45 brings up his 39th ODI half-century off 63 deliveries. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/r4T2tj7tPV
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2019
# New Zealand are looking under pressure as India are quickly moving towards their target. Kohli and Rohit have jointly added 23 runs in last three overs, inlcuding three boundaries by the Indian skipper. India 103/1 (21 overs)
# Kohli is now looking settled at the middle and providing good support to opener Rohit Sharma from the other hand. The visitors are slowly taking away the game from the Black Caps as they now require 164 runs from 32 overs. India 80/1 (18 overs)
# 11 runs off the last two overs. Runs are flowing in at a decent pace for India now. Rohit and Kohli are batting at their respective scores of 32 and 12 and are looking to build a strong partnership after losing Dhawan early. The Men in Blue now require 172 runs from 35 overs. India 72/1 (15 overs)
# Kohli kicked off his innings slowly, getting off the mark after seven deliveries with a single. The Men in Blue then added nine runs in the 13th over, including the first boundary from the skipper as India crossed the 50-run mark in their chase. India 61/1 (13 overs)
# Wicket! New Zealand have made the breakthrough by removing Dhawan for 28 runs. Boult bowls a good length delivery outside off and the Indian opener hands a simple catch to Ross Taylor at first slip. India 39/1 (9 overs)
TRENT BOULT! Moves the ball away from Dhawan and draws the edge. Taylor does the rest at first slip and Dhawan has to go for 28. 39/1 in the 9th. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/qT9DWJQVlc
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Ferguson has been brought into the attack and he bowls a brilliant over, not allowing the Indians to disturb the scoreboard. Dhawan and Sharma are looking good at the moment and are eyeing a big partnership as the Men in Blue now require 213 runs from 44 overs. India 31/0 (6 overs)
# Boult bowls a tight third over before Bracewell concedes nine runs to India, including a boundary each to Dhawan and Rohit. While Rohit flicks gently past midwicket for four runs, Dhawan punches between point and cover for another boundary. India 26/0 (4 overs)
# India made a strong start to their innings, adding 16 runs to their scoreboard in the first two overs. While Sharma gets the breakthrough with a single on the very first ball, Dhawan begins his innings with two runs. Dhawan then smashes Bracewell with back-to-back three boundaries in the second over. India 16/0 (2 overs)
# Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have walked down the crease to begin India's chase. Boult to begin the proceedings for the hosts.
# Innings Break!
# The hosts are all out for 243! New Zealand 243/10 (49 overs)
# Wicket! Bhuvneshwar delivers a short of a length ball at off stump and Doug Bracewell was run out by Kohli at the non-striker's end. New Zealand 239/9 (48.1 overs)
Double strike. Sodhi is caught off Shami and then Bracewell is run out at the bowlers end off the first ball of the 49th over. Ferguson joins Boult with the score 239/9. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Trent Boult comes to bat!
# Wicket! Virat Kohli missed a great chance to dismiss Ish Sodhi when he dropped a catch in the fifth delivery of the 48th over, but he soon made amendments by removing the New Zealander for 12 runs. Shami bowled a length ball at middle stump and Sodhi hits an aerial shot to hand the catch to the Indian skipper. New Zealand 239/8 (48 overs)
# Ish Sodhi is the new batsman in for the hosts!
# Wicket! Taylor fell just seven runs short of a century as he nudges a Mohammed Shami delivery straight to the Indian keeper to depart for 93. With just four overs left, New Zealand will definitely look to reach at least 250. New Zealand 225/7 (46 overs)
Shami strikes. Ross Taylor looks to work it fine but finds the edge and Karthik takes the catch. Taylor has to go for 93. The innings also saw him go past 1000 ODI runs against India. 222/7 LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# New Zealand 213/6 (44 overs)
# Wicket! Pandya bowls a short and wide outside off, but Santner gets a thin edge to hand a simple catch to Karthik, who dives swiftly towards his left to grab the ball. The hosts are now six down. New Zealand 201/6 (42 overs)
WICKET. Santner edges behind off Pandya for 3. Bracewell will now join Taylor 81* with the score 198/6. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Mitchell Santner comes to bat for New Zealand!
# Wicket! Pandya bags his first international wicket since the first innings of the Southampton Test by removing Nicholls for six. The right-arm fast-medium bowler delivers a bouncer and the New Zealander lobbed the ball harmlessly to Karthik for a simple catch. New Zealand 191/5 (40 overs)
WICKET. Nicholls gets a glove looking to pull a slower delivery from Pandya. 191/5 now in the 40th. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/bVpkSdD3Eb
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Henry Nicholls is the new batsman in!
# Wicket! Chahal has finally got the breakthrough as he breaks a 119-run partnership between Taylor and Latham. The Indian bowler invites Latham (51) to play a big shot, but the latter ends up giving a simple catch to Rayudu at deep midwicket. New Zealand 181/4 (38 overs)
Chahal has another as he gets Latham just after his 50. Caught by Rayudu on the midwicket boundary. Nicholls joins Taylor 71* with the score 178/4 in the 38th. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND = @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/3MXOsBYBUv
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Runs are flowing in at a good pace for New Zealand, with Taylor and Latham also completing a 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Kuldeep Yadav also conceded 11 runs in his last over, including a boundary to Taylor. India need to break this partnership if they want to stop the hosts from posting a big total. New Zealand 176/3 (37 overs)
# New Zealand 160/3 (35 overs)
# Taylor brings up his 46th ODI half-century as he and Latham continue to stand strong at the crease at their respective scores of 53 and 35. The New Zealand batsman achieved the feat by scoring a boundary of Jadhav's delivery. The Indian bowlers, meanwhile, are desperately looking to break this stand. New Zealand 144/3 (32 overs)
50 for Ross Taylor! Comes up in 71 balls in the 32nd over. 143/3 now with Tom Latham 35*. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/QecF6Ns8GP
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Kedhar Jadhav has been called into the attack as India look to break the stand between Taylor and Latham who are looking good at the moment and managing to rotate the strike fluently.Meanwhile, Taylor has now become the fifth batsman from his country to cross 10,000 List-A runs. New Zealand 124/3 (29 overs)
# An expensive over from Pandya as he concedes 12 runs to the hosts.Taylor smashes the Indian bowler for two boundaries in the first and fifth delivery as he along with Latham bring up a half-century stand to guide New Zealand past 100 runs after some early blows. New Zealand 113/3 (27 overs)
50 partnership for Taylor and Latham. From 63 balls. 113/3 now after 27 overs. Jadhav on now. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/5f3xvC3qNI
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# The hosts have added 11 runs to their scoreboard, including a boundary. Latham manages to get the bottom edge from Kuldeep Yadav's delivery in the 24th over and the ball goes straight for four runs-- the first after 12th over. New Zealand 95/3 (25 overs)
# While Taylor is having trouble playing short-pitched deliveries from Pandya, Chahal too is not giving many chances to the hosts to score runs. The hosts are currently scoring at a rate of 3.51. New Zealand 75/3 (21 overs)
# Pandya bowls another tidy over and gives away just two runs before Chahal concedes five runs to the home side. Taylor and Latham are playing cautiously as they are not taking much risks with their shots and opting for just singles. New Zealand 67/3 (19 overs)
# Tom Latham is the new batsman for New Zealand!
# Wicket! India have got a big wicket in the form of Williamson, who was looking strong at the middle and managed to build a small partnership with Taylor. Chahal bowled a slow delivery on middle stump, prompting the New Zealand skipper to step out early and hit towards the midwicket to hand Pandya a superb catch. A great comeback day for Pandya. New Zealand 60/3 (17 overs)
Chahal now. Williamson looks to whip the ball off his legs but can only find a diving Pandya at midwicket. Top diving catch. 59/3 now in the 17th over. Latham joins Taylor. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# After Chahal conceded seven runs including a boundary to Williamson, Kuldeep Yadav was called into the attack as India look to break the stand between Williamson (24) and Taylor (7). New Zealand 51/2 (13 overs)
# It was a tight first over from Pandya following his return to the squad as he has given just a single to Taylor. Meanwhile, Williamson is looking settled at the middle and is hoping for good support from Taylor as New Zealand look to make a comeback in the game after losing openers quickly. New Zealand 43/2 (11 overs)
# Hardik Pandya called into the attack!
# The last two overs proved to be expensive for the Men in Blue as they conceded 13 runs to New Zealand, including two boundaries to Williamson. The New Zealand skipper first scored the boundary by hitting a Bhuvneshwar delivery between the bowler and mid-off before he punches a delivery from Yuzvendra Chahal firmly to bisect cover for another four. New Zealand 42/2 (10 overs)
Kane Williamson finishes the 10th over with a boundary to take the score to 42/2. Williamson 19* and Taylor 3*. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/34mcZBTdua
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Just three runs off the last two overs. Taylor edges down a Shami delivery to third man to get off the mark with a single. While the Indian bowlers continue to pile pressure on New Zealand, the hosts desperately need a good partnership at this point to register a big score. New Zealand 29/2 (8 overs)
# Ross Taylor is the new batsman in!
# Wicket! Bhuvneshwar strikes for India. The Indian bowler conceded 11 runs in the fifth over, but he made amendments by taking a big wicket of Guptill. The New Zealand opener attempted to drive the first ball of the seventh over but got a thin edge to hand an easy catch to wicketkeeper Karthik. The hosts are now two down. New Zealand 26/2 (6.1 overs)
Colin Munro, Martin Guptill depart early
# Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a terrific maiden third over before Mohammed Shami conceded just a single to Williamson in the very next over. The New Zealand skipper and Guptill are looking to build a partnership after losing opener Munro for seven runs. New Zealand 11/1 (4 overs)
# Skipper Kane Williamson comes to bat at No.3!
# Wicket! Mohammed Shami gives an early breakthrough to India by removing Munro for seven runs. The New Zealander kicked off his innings on a strong note as he even scored a boundary as early as in the third ball of the second over before being caught at slip by Rohit Sharma off Mohammed Shami's delivery. New Zealand 10/1 (2 overs)
Shami strikes at the end of his first over. Munro drives and it catches the edge through to first slip. He has to go for 7. 10/1 now after 2. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/Xl0rmVpQq2 #NZvIND
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
# Martin Guptill and Colin Munro have walked down the crease to begin New Zealand's innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will start the proceedings for India.
# Mitchell Santner has returned for New Zealand while Colin de Grandhomme has been dropped.
# Dinesh Karthik has been called in the Playing XI to replace MS Dhoni, who is out with a hamstring strain. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya has returned to the squad following a provisional suspension for his recent sexist remarks and he will replace Vijay Shankar.
# Lineups:
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (capt), Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chaha
New Zealand Playing XI: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
# Kane Williamson has won the toss and opted to bat first against India.
New Zealand wins the toss and elects to bat first in the 3rd ODI #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/Ygh1i0GjIh
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2019
# Here is a look at the pitch for today's game!
It's a nice and windy afternoon here at the Bay Oval.
A look at the pitch for the 3rd ODI #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/pbbaSBhEgf
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2019
# It is a nice and windy day at Bay Oval!
Gates open at @BayOvalOfficial! Another stunning day here. Sun protection vital today. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/qSPMQZ5hAW
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2019
After clinching back-to-back victories against New Zealand, Virat Kohli-led India will look to seal five-match ODI series when they lock horns with the hosts in the third game at the Bay Oval on Monday.
A victory in the upcoming match would give India an unassailable 3-0 lead, which would be enough for the Men in Blue to take a fitting revenge of their disappointing 0-4 defeat during the limited-overs series against the Black Caps in 2014.
India, who headed into the New Zealand tour on the back of their maiden ODI and Test series win in Australia, kicked off their five-match series with a convincing eight-wicket win over the Kane Williamson-led side at McLean Park, Napier. The visitors followed it up with a crushing 90-run triumph in the second ODI at Bay Oval.
Kohli's side are now all set to once again square off with New Zealand at the same venue and they will look to continue their winning momentum and put forth a similar kind of dominant performance as they gave in the second match.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has made a return to the Indian squad following a provisional suspension for his sexist remarks during a celebrity talk show, can be included in the Playing XI for the upcoming match.
Having been rested for the last two ODIs and subsequent three-match series against New Zealand due to heavy workload, Kohli will look to ensure he finishes his assignment Down Under on a high note.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have been outclassed by the Men in Blue in all the departments in the opening two matches. The Kiwi batsmen had struggled against the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, who have taken a total of 12 wickets combined in the two ODIs.
Meanwhile, Indian batsmen had also showcased good performances, with opener Shikhar Dhawan making a return to form with knocks of 75 and 66 in the two games after a poor show in Australia.
Vice-captain Rohit Sharma also came up with a strokeful 87-run knock en route his huge 154-run stand with opening partner Dhawan, while Kohli too looked in a good form in both the matches as he scored significant knocks of 45 and 43.
Meanwhile, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (48) and Ambati Rayudu (47) also showed solid performance as they helped India across the 300-run mark in the second ODI in Mount Maunganui.
For New Zealand, skipper Kane Williamson was the top-scorer in the opening ODI with a 64-run knock, while all-rounder Doug Bracewell tested the Indian bowlers by scoring his maiden fifty before finishing with 46-ball 57 after coming to bat at No.8.
The Black Caps will now aim to rebound strongly and win the third match in order to keep themselves alive in the series.
The two squads are as follows:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Shubman Gill, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Colin de Grandhomme, Trent Boult, Henry Nicholls, Doug Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Colin Munro, Ish Sodhi, Micthell Santner, Tim Southee.
