On Tuesday (11th February), during Mount Maunganui ODI, KL Rahul became the second Indian wicketkeeper-batsman to register an ODI century outside the Asian soil.
It is the third and final game of the three-match ODI series between the hosts New Zealand and the visitors India. After winning the toss, the hosts decided to field first.
India lost their first three batsmen at 62 runs, where only Prithvi Shaw (40) managed to reach the double-digit score. Shreyas Iyer and the wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul handled that situation very well as they put the 100 runs partnership for the fourth wicket.
Though Iyer lost his wicket on 62 runs, Rahul continued his batting. After completing his half-century in 66 balls, Rahul maintained his fine form and built up another strong partnership with Manish Pandey.
For the fifth wicket, Rahul and Pandey added 107 runs.
KL Rahul became the first Indian wicketkeeper-batsman to hit an ODI century against the non-Asian hosts
The right-handed batsman Rahul completed his fourth ODI century in 104 balls. Though it was his third ODI century outside the Asian soil, it was his first ODI century as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
After completing that century, he became the second Indian wicketkeeper-batsman to hit a century outside the Asian soil.
Rahul Dravid was the first Indian wicketkeeper-batsman to hit an ODI century outside the Asian conditions. During the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999, Dravid scored 145 runs against Sri Lanka at Taunton.
So, KL became the first Indian wicketkeeper-batsman to hit an ODI century against the non-Asian hosts.
However, Rahul failed to surpass Rahul Dravid‘s 145 runs as the younger scored 112 runs off 113 balls (9 fours and 2 sixes) before losing his wicket.
Manish Pandey also played the important knock of 42 runs. The Indian team managed to score 296/7 (50 overs) in the first innings.
Among the New Zealand bowlers, Hamish Bennett took four wickets as he finished with the bowling figures of 10-1-64-4.
India have already lost the series as they are trailing it by 2-0. However, the fearless visitors are desperate to win this ODI while the hosts want to complete whitewash.