Virat Kohli-led ‘Men in Blue’ delivered a superb all-round performance to beat New Zealand in a nail-biting encounter in the final One Day International at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on October 30. With this win, India clinched the three-match series 2-1. Earlier, Kiwis won the toss and they invited India to bat first in the first day-night match at this venue. Team India set mammoth 338 (India 337/6) target for the visitors. Rohit Sharma (147) and skipper Virat Kohli (113) anchored the Indian innings.
In reply, the Kiwis were off to a flying start with openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro going after the Indian bowlers. But they could only manage 331/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Colin Munro (75), skipper Kane Williamson (64) and Tom Latham (65) were the major contributors for New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma (147), who struck his 15th OD century, the fifth of this year and the first against New Zealand, was declared the Man Of The Match, while Indian skipper Virat Kohli was declared the Man Of The Series for scoring 263 runs in the three matches. He has notched up two centuries in this series.
— cricket (@84107010ghwj) October 29, 2017
Here are the three turning points that turned the game in India’s favour:
Colin Munro’s wicket: Colin Munro along with Martin Guptill gave New Zealand a flying start. After losing Guptill (10) at 44, Munro and Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson then pulled 0ff a partnership of 109 runs to put the visitors on driving seat. Then came leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl the 25th over of the Indian innings. Chahal broke the partnership when Munro was bowled after failing to read the turn. Munro, who was the highest scorer for the visitors, hit seven boundaries and three sixes during his 62-ball stay in the middle.
— cricket (@84107010ghwj) October 29, 2017
Henry Nicholls’s bowled out: Henry Nicholls who was looking dangerous in the end, fell prey to a superb yorker by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was struggling in the start with his line and length. Bhuvi’s yorker smashes into the leg stump as Nicholls was forced to walk back in the pavilion on his personal score of 37. Dismissal of Nicholls broke the visitors’ momentum as the hosts made a strong comeback.
Tom Latham’s run out: Tom Latham, who added 79 runs on board along with Ross Taylor, got run out by Jasprit Bumrah and MS Dhoni on the fifth ball of the 48th over and it changed the game in India’s favour. Bumrah bowled a fantastic yorker to Colin de Grandhomme and the ball went towards Dhoni who threw it towards Bumrah as Grandhomme and Latham were involved in a huge mix-up. Latham was way down the pitch and had to return as Grandhomme was not ready to take a single. Bumrah hit the stumps and it gave India the wicket they needed in the death overs.
— cricket (@84107010ghwj) October 29, 2017
Brief scores: India 337/6 (Rohit Sharma 147, Virat Kohli 113; Mitchell Santner 2/58) against New Zealand 331/7 (Colin Munro 75, Kane Williamson 64, Tom Latham 65; Yuzvendra Chahal 2/47).
