On Sunday, India clinched a terrific victory against New Zealand in the 3^rd ODI of 5-match ODI series at Mohali. After winning the toss, India decided to bowl first. New Zealand managed to score 285 runs before getting bowled out at 49.4 overs.

In reply, Indian openers were fallen early but Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni’s brilliant 3^rd wicket partnership made the chase very easy for India. India successfully chased down the target in 48.2 overs after losing 3 wickets. With this victory in the 3^rd ODI, India is leading this 5-match ODI series by 2-1.

Brief Scores: New Zealand – 285 in 49.4 overs (Tom Latham 61, James Neesham 57, Kedar Jadhav 3/29)

India – 289/3 in 48.2 overs (Virat Kohli 154*, MS Dhoni 80, Matt Henry 2/56)

Result – India won by 7 wickets

Some of the statistical highlights of the match are given below:

After making a stumping dismissal to New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor in the 29^th over of the match, MS Dhoni completed his 150^th stumping in his international career. Dhoni becomes the first international cricketer to achieve this feat. After the end of New Zealand’s innings in this ODI, Dhoni has claimed 151 stumping dismissals (38 stumpings in Tests, 91 stumpings in ODIs and 22 stumpings in T20Is) in his international career.

New Zealand’s lower order batsmen James Neesham and Matt Henry put a brilliant 84 runs partnership for the 9^th wicket. It was New Zealand’s highest 9^th wicket ODI partnership. The previous best was for 83 runs between Kyle Mils and Tim Southee against India at Christchurch on 8^th March 2009.

New Zealand scored 285 runs (285/10 in 49.4 overs) in this ODI after batted first. It was New Zealand’s 4^th highest ODI total against India on the Indian soil.

Despite taking 3 wickets, Indian pacer Umesh Yadav was very expensive in this ODI. His final bowling figure in this ODI was 10-0-75-3. In the history of India vs New Zealand ODI in India, Umesh Yadav became the jointly most runs conceded bowler in an ODI innings for India. Venkatesh Prasad was the previous alone leader in this list when he had conceded the same runs (75 runs) against New Zealand at Rajkot on 5^th November 1999.

Apart from 150+ international stumping dismissals, Indian skipper MS Dhoni also achieved several feats with his bat during this ODI.

i) MS Dhoni completed his 9,000 ODI runs. Dhoni became 17^th batsman, 3^rd wicket-keeper batsman and 5^th Indian batsman to score 9,000 ODI runs. Also Dhoni became the 5^th fastest (according to the no. of innings) to complete 9,000 ODI runs as he took 244 ODI innings to achieve this feat. The top 4 fastest achievers (according to the no. of innings) to complete 9,000 ODI runs were: Sourav Ganguly (228 innings), Sachin Tendulkar (235 innings), Brian Lara (239 innings), Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis (both took 242 innings).

ii) MS Dhoni also completed 15,000 runs in his international career during this ODI. Dhoni became 6^th Indian batsmen to achieve this feat. The other 5 Indian batsmen, who had achieved this feat before Dhoni were: Sachin Tendulkar (34,357 runs), Rahul Dravid (24,064 runs), Sourav Ganguly (18,433 runs), Virender Sehwag (16,892 runs) and Mohammad Azharuddin (15, 593 runs).

iii) MS Dhoni scored a great half-century in this ODI as he scored 80 runs before getting dismissed. It was Dhoni’s 70^th 50+ knock in his ODI career which was the 2^nd most no.of 50+ knock by an ODI wicketkeeper-batsman. Former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara is leading in this list with 114 no.of 50+ knocks in his ODI career.

iv) In ODI history, MS Dhoni became the highest no.of six hitter for India. Dhoni surpassed Sachin Tendulkar (195 ODI sixes) in this record. At the end of this ODI, Dhoni has hit 196 sixes in his ODI career.

v) Also as an ODI captain, MS Dhoni became the highest no.of six hitter. At the end of this ODI, Dhoni has hit 125 sixes as an ODI captain. The previous record holder was Ricky Ponting with 123 ODI sixes as captain.

Indian batsmen Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni put a brilliant 151 runs partnership for the 3^rd wicket. It was India’s second highest 3^rd wicket ODI partnership against New Zealand. India’s highest 3^rd wicket ODI partnership against New Zealand was for 158 runs between Navjot Sidhu and Mohinder Amarnath at Sharjah on 27^th March 1988.

Indian batsman Virat Kohli once again hit a terrific century in this ODI. It was Kohli’s 26^th ODI century which was the 4^th most no.of ODI century. Kohli surpassed former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara who had hit 25 ODI centuries. The current top 3 most no.of ODI century hitters are: Sachin Tendulkar (49 ODI centuries), Ricky Ponting (30 ODI centuries) and Sanath Jayasuriya (28 ODI centuries).

Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 154 runs innings was India’s 3^rd highest ODI innings in successful run chases.

This 154-runs match winning knock was Kohli’s 14^th ODI century in successful run chases. With this winning century, Kohli became jointly most no.of ODI century scorer in successful run chases. Kohli equaled with Sachin Tendulkar’s record who had also hit 14 ODI centuries in successful run chases.

Also this match winning century was Kohli’s 22^nd ODI century in winning cause which was the 4^th most no.of ODI century by a batsman in winning cause.

10. India successfully chased 286 runs in 48.2 overs (289/3). It was India’s 2^nd highest successful ODI chase against New Zealand. India’s highest successful ODI chase against New Zealand was 321/5 (48.5 overs) at Bangalore on 7^th December 2010.

11. Virat Kohli was awarded Man of the Match for his outstanding match winning knock. It was Kohli’s 22^nd ODI Man of the Match award and 33^rd international Man of the Match award. With this award, Kohli became 3^rd most no.of Man of Match award winner for India in international cricket history.