After Diwali break, Indian players took the field for the opener of three-match ODI series against New Zealand. This was marked as the 200th ODI match for Indian captain Virat Kohli, who celebrated this game with a remarkable hundred.
Though, this effort was not enough to bring a victory for his team as every other batsman failed to convert their start into a big knock. Kohli’s 121 were the only score of 50+ in India’s batting line-up and hosts managed just a fighting total of 280 on board. But Kiwi team easily chased this target down by six wickets. Tom Latham scored a brilliant ton and shared a match-winning 200-run stand with Ross Taylor, who scored 95.
Meanwhile, during India’s batting an interesting thing happened, which no one noticed much. First three sixes of India’s innings was the action reply of each other. All of three were scored by pull shot in the very same area.
See the video here: http://www.bcci.tv/videos/id/5170/three-pulls-three-sixes-same-area-666
Rohit Sharma started it with two blazing shots in Tim Southee’s over during the fifth over of the match. The third one came from skipper Kohli’s bat, who sent Adam Milne out of the park in the 25th over. This shot went just over to Colin Munro at boundary. Though, a 14-year-young ball boy managed to take a one-handed stunner just near the ad boards. Thus, three same shots brought a same result for India.
After this defeat, India is running on the edge of the knife, whom has to win remaining both ODIs to win the series. If host manage to win both those games, they will also become the top-ranked ODI team as well.
