Team India had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the ongoing 5-match series, as they registered a comfortable 7-wicket win in the third ODI at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Monday. They have hardly broken any sweat to clinch the series with two matches to spare. In the third game, the Kiwi skipper, Kane Williamson decided to bat after winning the toss. During the toss, the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli announced two changes in the squad as MS Dhoni and Vijay Shankar made way for Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya.
Electing to bat, New Zealand were restricted to 243 as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and comeback man Hardik Pandya scalped two wickets each. However, Mohammed Shami was the star performer as he picked up three wickets and went on to win the Player of the Match Award. He set the tone for India after he dismissed Collin Munro in the second over of the match and then dismissed Ross Taylor, who was closing in on his century, and Ish Sodhi.
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Talking about his performance in the match, Shami said, “It’s really difficult to bowl against the wind. One comes with the wind and the other is against the wind. It is difficult but not too hard. Bhuvi at the other end was also a great help. Sticking to areas where we want to bowl is the key.”
Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli put on 113 for the second wicket as India completed the run chase with 42 balls to spare. Ross Taylor top scored with 93, while Tom Latham was the next highest scorer with 51.
Talking about the loss during the post-match ceremony, Williamson said, “They are a very good side and they are teaching us a lesson. There are improvements today and we want to appreciate some of the lessons we have learned from their side. The consistency about their plans and the way they forced some mistakes, I guess we have to be better than that. The margins are large in white cricket, but it does require a lot of improvement. I think everybody is wanting to contribute more. I think we are going okay with the ball in hand. We need early wickets to put pressure on the opposition.”
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The win marks the end of Kohli’s tour of New Zealand. He has been rested for the remaining two ODIs and the following three-match Twenty20 International series in keeping with the BCCI’s workload management programme ahead of the ICC World Cup 2019. Rohit will lead the side in Kohli’s absence.
Talking about the win, Virat said, “Three clinical games for us. The relentlessness of the side is something that really pleases me. We really enjoy ourselves and the guys believe in their skills and they are showing it on the field. When a guy doesn’t get runs in a couple of games, the opposition still feels that he’s going to fire. I haven’t had a break for a long time. It’s been hectic. I can relax and enjoy my break. Someday someone has to take your place and that’s how it goes.”
With India sealing the series, chances are that young Shubman Gill, who was included in the squad on the back of a phenomenal Ranji Trophy 2018-19 season, might see him make an ODI debut. The 19-year-old willow wielder was named Player of the Tournament in New Zealand during India’s successful ICC U-19 World Cup campaign last year.
Talking about the youngster, Kohli said, “Shubman is a very exciting talent and I saw him bat in the nets and I was like wow I was not even ten percent of that when I was 19.”
