IND vs NZ: India dominates New Zealand in their own backyard, clinches the ODI series by 3-0

India clinched the five-match ODI series by 3-0 as they won the third match by 7 wickets. Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan had a good start with the bat with Dhawan making 27 balls 28 runs before giving a catch on the slips off Trent Boult’s ball.

Vice-captain Rohit Sharma and Indian captain Virat Kohli went on to make a hundred run partnership before both of them fell one by one in the gap of 16 runs. Sharma made 77 balls 62 runs while skipper Kohli made 74 balls 60 runs.

Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu came in and took India to the finishing lines. Both of them played important knocks for India as Karthik made 38 balls 38 runs and Rayudu made 42 balls 40 runs. For New Zealand Trent Boult was the highest wicket taker as he took 2 wickets from the 10 overs he bowled giving away just 40 runs.

Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik came in place of Vijay Shankar and MS Dhoni and the former left no stone unturned to make his presence felt. Pandya took a remarkable catch to dismiss New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson in 17th over off Yuzvendra Chahal’s ball. Hardik also took the wickets of Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner in his over and registered a bowling figure of 2/45.

Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Bhuveneshwar Kumar struck early to dismiss both the openers inside the first seven overs and took 2 and 3 wickets respectively in the innings. Yuzvendra Chahal also took 2 wickets while Kuldeep Yadav and Kedar Jadhav went wicket-less.

New Zealand were bundled out for 243 in 49 overs and put up a target of 244 for India. Ross Taylor was the highest scorer for the White Ferns as he hit 106 balls 93 runs including 9 boundaries. Tom Latham too scored an half-century for his team as he hit 64 balls 51 runs. The next match will be played on January 31 at Seddon Park, Hamilton.