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. However, Team India finished the innings with the score of 252. 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, he shined with the ball as well, as he dismissed Taylor in his first over itself.
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After the 10-over mark, the Kiwis were reeling at 38/2 and Hardik came as the first change bowler for India and he bowled a wicket-maiden for India as he got the priced wicket of Taylor. He got the length ball to nip back in sharply and Taylor was craped for room and played across the line as the ball crashed on his pads. Pandya was quick enough to appeal for lbw and the umpire George wasted no time in giving it out as well.
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Pandya baited Taylor into playing around his front pad. He falls over and is struck above the knee-roll hence, there was a doubt that ball will miss the stumps. New Zealand had a DRS left and Taylor had a chat with his skipper Kane Williamson and decides against challenging the on-field out decision. However, later on, in replays, the ball tracker suggested that the ball would’ve bounced over the stumps. Williamson and Taylor made a huge mistake by not opting for DRS in a crucial game. Ross only managed to score just one run.
Here is the video of the dismissal:
https://twitter.com/videos_shots/status/1091960012857958402
