New Zealand captain Kane Williamson lauded his team’s ‘outstanding performance’ against India in the third ODI at Mount Maunganui on Tuesday (February 11) which they won convincingly by 5 wickets and also completed a 3-0 series whitewash over India. However, this was the first ODI series whitewash that India had suffered in 31 years and the feat too came after India had recently whitewashed New Zealand 5-0 in the T20I series playing before the ODI.

“This was an outstanding performance. We were very clinical – India put us under pressure, but the way the guys fought back with the ball and kept them to a par total. The cricket smarts in the second half was outstanding to see,” Kane Williamson said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Williamson had missed the first 2 ODIs due to injury but returned for the third and final one, said they will try to carry forward this momentum into the series against Australia.

“We know how good they are at all formats, but for us the clarity about the roles the guys had was the most important thing. The ODI side will be taking this momentum into the Australia series. Outstanding effort against a brilliant India side.”

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On the other hand, Player of the Match Henry Nicholls, who amassed 80 in the final ODI, said his team benefitted from good batting starts during the ODI series.

“To come back and win 3-0 after the T20Is is nice. The way (Martin) Guptill played today allowed us to get ahead. We got a 100-run stand, but we were fortunate enough to get good starts this series,” he said.

Now the Kiwis will have to take on India in a two-match Test series. The first match will begin on February 21 and will be preceded by a three-day practice match as well, with India taking on a New Zealand XI from February 14 (Friday).