After facing a demoralizing loss in the Hamilton ODI by 8 wickets, Team India was raring to make a comeback in the final ODI against New Zealand. However, the similar situation occurred in Wellington as well, as the Indian team was reduced to 18/4 after the stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma decided to bat first. India made three changes in the squad as Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, and Khaleel Ahmed made way for MS Dhoni, Vijay Shankar, and Mohammed Shami. However, Team India finished the innings with the score of 252 and won the match by 35 runs.
Coming into the chase, the Kiwis lost, Henry Nicholls, Colin Munro and Ross Taylor under the 11-over mark. A lot of credit for India’s defendable score goes to the ferocious batting display of Hardik Pandya and a strong partnership between Ambati Rayudu and Vijay Shankar. Rayudu (90) and Shankar (45) amassed 98 runs for the 5th wicket and it gave sufficient room for a comeback to the Indian team. However, Pandya added the finishing touch by smashing 45 runs in just 22 balls with the help of 5 sixes and 2 fours.
Despite the losing wickets in regular intervals, the hosts needed just 78 runs at the 36-over mark with four wickets in hand and James Neesham at the crease along with Mitchell Santner. Neesham had smacked 22 runs in last two overs hence, Rohit had to get him out and he decided to bring the giant killer, Kedar Jadhav, which eventually worked for India.
WATCH – Trent Boult Cleaned Up MS Dhoni With Ease
The second ball of the 37th over started with an lbw appeal ended up with a run-out and that almost sealed the game for India. Jadhav bowled a round-arm slider which came even slower off the pitch and Neesham stretched himself across for a sweep but missed the ball completely as the ball struck his pads outside the line. However, he came out of the crease without being aware of the same and Dhoni took the advantage of it and rolled the ball towards the stumps and stole a wicket from right under Neesham’s nose.
WATCH – Ross Taylor Makes A Mistake Of Not Opting For DRS
Surprisingly, Dhoni was seen elated after the dismissal as he jumped and celebrated. He was quite thrilled with his effort, especially after the last two overs. The Indian fans don’t often see Dhoni celebrate a wicket in such animated fashion these days.
Here is the video of the dismissal:
MS Dhoni's match presence…!! pic.twitter.com/RIZDY2Aj1o
— Videos Shots (@videos_shots) February 3, 2019
Post the match, Neesham took to his official Twitter account to acknowledge his mistake and learning a vital lesson of only running after taking the sight of the ball.
Thanks for all the advice. Figure out where the ball is, then run. Gotcha 👍
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) February 3, 2019
Neesham’s tweet received a lot of flak from the Indian fans who were intended to praise Dhoni than to slam Neesham but ended up doing the latter as well. Read some of those reactions below:
No…..figure out where Dhoni is, then run
— Jay (@Jay99135557) February 3, 2019
Don't ya think that @msdhoni fooled there for a while….?? I think so though
— kiwicrush (@vishnu42IX) February 3, 2019
And when dhoni is around also figure out where he is 😂
— Praphanna (@Praphanna) February 3, 2019
No the advice is "if ball is anywhere near Dhoni….just DON'T RUN"
— Drunk BATMAN (@Caped_Humor) February 3, 2019
It was at this time that Neesham gave a fitting reply to one of an Indian fan.
Oh the replay showed that I saw the ball? Amazing cameras they have these days to see my eyeballs 🙄 https://t.co/8Ym6w9Kct6
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) February 3, 2019
