The visiting side India secured the ongoing five-match ODI series against the hosts New Zealand after winning their third straight ODI in this series. In the third ODI of the series at Bay Oval (Mount Maunganui) on Monday (28 January), India won by seven wickets (with 42 balls remaining) and also has taken the lead of 3-0 in this series.
Leading the series by 2-0, India made two changes in the playing XI while the hosts New Zealand had the solitary change from the previous ODI. While Mitchell Santner replaced Colin de Grandhomme in New Zealand playing XI, Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya have been added in the Indian squad as the replacement of MS Dhoni and Vijay Shankar respectively.
Also read: Twitterati Erupts As Hardik Come In For 3rd ODI And Dhoni Goes Out
After winning the toss in this very important ODI, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson decided to bat first. Once again, the openers failed to provide the good starts as the openers Martin Guptill (13) and Colin Munro (7) both were dismissed very cheaply.
Also watch – Guptill Plays Helicopter Shot, Bhuvneshwar Takes The Revenge
Struggling on 26/2 at the very early period, the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson and the experienced batsman Ross Taylor tried to control that innings. Williamson and Taylor had the 33-run partnership for the third wicket before Williamson lost his wicket after the comeback man Hardik Pandya grabbed a stunning catch at mid-wicket.
Also watch: Hardik Pandya Takes A Stunner In His International Cricket Return
After that, Taylor had a 119-run partnership for the fourth wicket along with the wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham. While Taylor completed his half-century in 71 balls, Latham completed his half-century in 62 balls. Just after completing his half-century, Latham was dismissed on 51 off 64 balls (1 four and 1 six) and since then New Zealand lost their wickets in regular intervals. Taylor unluckily missed his ODI century as he was dismissed on 93 runs off 106 balls (9 fours). While once New Zealand were batting on 178/3, they were bundled out for just 243 runs in 49 overs.
Also watch: Kiwi Batsmen Ran Four Runs And Hardik Gets A Wicket
Among the Indian bowlers, the Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/46), all-rounder Hardik Pandya (2/45) and the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2/51) picked up two wickets each while another pacer Mohammed Shami (3/41) got three wickets.
Also read: Umpires Miscounted An Over Of Hardik Pandya
In reply, India chased down the target comfortably and secured their series victory in this tour. After the opener Shikhar Dhawan lost his wicket on 28 runs, the top two ODI ranked batsmen, skipper Virat Kohli and the opener Rohit Sharma provided the 113-run partnership for the second wicket. Both scored half-centuries as Sharma scored 62 off 77 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes) while Kohli played the 60-run knock off 74 balls (6 fours and only six).
Later, the next batsmen Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik put the 77 runs partnership for the unbroken fourth wicket as India chased down that target in 43 overs after losing just three wickets (245/3). Rayudu remained not out on 40 runs off 42 balls (5 fours and only six) while Karthik was not out on 38 off 38 balls (5 fours and only six). The Indian pacer Mohammed Shami once again won the Player of the Match award for his outstanding bowling performances.
Among the New Zealand bowlers, the left-arm pacer Trent Boult (2/40) bagged two wickets and the left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (1/45) picked up the only other wicket in that innings.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
India take an unassailable 3-0 series lead!
Half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and VIrat Kohli set a solid platform before Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik finish off the pursuit of 244 with 42 balls remaining to win by 7 wickets.#NZvIND scorecard ➡️ https://t.co/C81irz9QmP pic.twitter.com/TSjWjEaYyI
— ICC (@ICC) January 28, 2019
Finishing touches courtesy @DineshKarthik & @RayuduAmbati after half centuries from @ImRo45 & @imVkohli takes #TeamIndia to a 7-wicket win in the 3rd ODI. 3-0 🇮🇳🇮🇳 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/XGTwOHmetM
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2019
India is the best ODI team on the road….just going from strength to strength. One more dominating performance. #NZvInd @StarSportsIndia
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 28, 2019
Main course appears over! Time for some dessert. Might try the……. humble pie #NZvsIND
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) January 28, 2019
India take an unassailable 3-0 series lead!
Half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and VIrat Kohli set a solid platform before Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik finish off the pursuit of 244 with 42 balls remaining to win by 7 wickets.#NZvIND
— Shree Sushil Kayat 🇮🇳 (@ImSKayat_IND) January 28, 2019
Congrats My idol @imVkohli for the Victory Love You Pagi #NZvIND New Zealand loss 🤣🤣🤣🤭
— The Tushar sharma (@Tushars88580737) January 28, 2019
New Zealand team be like 😂#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/dmViEQCCT5
— Biswajit Barman (@iMbarman97) January 28, 2019
Prediction: Kane Williamson's post-match press conference…#NZvIND #NZvsIND #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/i7L3c8B9bT
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) January 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/BeingShubh55555/status/1089822274675302401?s=20
Rayudu and Karthik have done their chances no harm. Was a good situation to come into but they have finished this easily
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 28, 2019
