The visitors led by Rohit Sharma rout hosts Black Calps by 35 runs in the fifth and final One-day International (ODI) of India vs New Zealand 2019 series on Sunday (February 3) at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. The Men in Blue rode on yet another clinical performance to thump hosts in their own den. The Kiwis were bundled out on 217 runs in 44.1 overs when Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Trent Boult 1 (3).
The all-round show saw India finishing the 50-over series on a high by clinching the series with the scoreline of 4-1 following a rare failure with the bat in the fourth ODI in Hamilton.
The Man of the Match, Ambati Rayudu alongside Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav helped India to add stability, but it was Hardik Pandya who bossed the game at the fag end of the innings. Similarly, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal bagged three wickets while giving away 41 runs in his quota of ten overs.
Mohammed Shami and Pandya claimed two wickets each, as Bhuvneshwar and Jadhav settled with wicket apiece.
For Kiwis, Jimmy Neeshaw has bee the top-scorer with 32-ball 44. His innings was comprised off four fours and two sixes, but MS Dhoni’s presence of mind cut his innings short during a run chase.
Skipper Kane Williamson couldn’t pace his innings as he managed to score 73-ball 39 before perishing on the bowling of Jadhav. The wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham tried to steady the ship but got deceived by Chahal after scoring 49-ball 37.
Moreover, Ross Taylor returned to the pavilion after scoring a solitary run. The on-field umpire adjudged Taylor lbw on the bowling of Pandya.
Colin de Grandhomme managed just eleven off eight deliveries, as Mitchell Santner scored 22 off 37 balls.
Batting first, India had a miserable start when the Men in Blue lost four wickets at the score of 18 in 9.3 overs. The interim skipper Rohit Sharma was the first to go when Kiwis pace spearhead cleaned him up on two off 16 deliveries.
Shikhar Dhawan followed his opening partner while scoring 13-ball. Henry claimed a simple catch of the southpaw on the bowling of Trent Boult.
The top-order teenage batsman Shubman Gill, who made his debut in penultimate ODI, returned to the pavilion after scoring seven off 11 balls, when Henry got better of the promising batsman.
The 37-year-old Mahendra Singh Dhoni couldn’t continue with his blazing form. Boult bowled Dhoni at the score of one while facing six deliveries. Thus, it further pushed India into a slump, but as they say, ‘cricket is the game of glorious uncertainties’ – Ambati Rayudu and Vijay Shankar came to the rescue to take India’s total over 100.
The duo recorded 98-run partnership for the fifth wicket before a mix-up saw Shankar being found short of his crease. The remarkable effort from Neesham and Munro pulled things back for the hosts.
Shankar with the help of four fours scored 45 off 64 deliveries.
On the other side, Rayudu continued to knit a partnership. Rayudu alongside Kedar Jadhav managed to add crucial 74 runs for the sixth wicket.
However, in the 44th over of India’s innings, Rayudu was dismissed by Henry at a total of 190. The middle-order batsman faced 113 balls for his hard-fought 90. His knock included eight fours and four sixes.
Following the wicket of Jadhav (34), it was all about Hardik Pandya’s mad dash. The powerful batsman played a sensational cameo by scoring 22-ball 45. He attributed it was three consecutive sixes on the bowling of leg-spinner Todd Astle.
Following Bhuvneshwar (6), Shami (1) is the last man to go. Thus, India posted 252 in 49.5 overs.
Brief Scores – India vs New Zealand 2-19:
India: Ambati Rayudu 90 (113), Hardik Pandya 45 (22) – Matt Henry 4 for 35, Trent Boult 3 for 39
New Zealand: Jimmy Neesham 44 (32), Kane Williamson 39 (73) – Yuzvendra Chahal 3 for 41