Match Report
Mid Innings: NZ vs IND (5th ODI): Middle-order stoop up for India when top-order failed
By Aditya Pratap - Feb 3, 2019 11:51 am
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There were several questions before the fifth One-Day International for Team India, who got bundled out for a mere 92 in the fourth game. The absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni hurt India a lot and India’s batting-order couldn’t manage to survive against Trent Bolt’s swing. However, Dhoni’s return was confirmed on the eve of the match and it will boost India’s chances of doing well in the final game of the series.

Middle-order
Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma failed once again

Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first, what looked like a tough batting surface at the beginning. There were as many as three changes in the team with Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav and Khaleel Ahmad making way for MS Dhoni, Mohammad Shami and Vijay Shankar.

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The start of the innings was similar with Hamilton and both the openers were back in the hut inside first six overs. However, it was Matt Henry who looked venomous today and rattled India’s top-order. Shubhman Gill had a second consecutive ordinary outing and got out for 7 runs. Dhoni was undone by a peach from Bolt for 1 and the ghost of Hamilton ODI was back to haunt India once again.

India was reeling at 18/4 when Ambati Rayudu and Vijay Shankar stitched a 98-run partnership together. Shankar was batting well and scored 45 off 64 balls before getting run out. Rayudu took this golden opportunity with both hands and scored 90 runs in 113 balls. This was his compose innings which rescued India’s ship. Hardik Pandya’s swashbuckling cameo (45 off 22) helped India to boost the score in death overs. The visitors finished their innings at 252/10 in 49.5 overs.

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Henry was the pick of the bowler and registered a figure of 4/35, while Bolt managed three wickets in the innings. Now, it will be interesting to see whether India’s bowling line-up can stand up in this situation and help India win the series by 4-1.

Here are some of the reactions on Twitter after India’s brilliant batting display: