India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI, Vadodara, 2010, Post Match Review
New Zealand needed to win the third ODI to remain in the series. They made two changes with fit-again Brendon McCullum and James Franklin replacing Jamie How and Tim Southee. India on the other hand rotated their players and Zaheer Khan came in place of Sreesanth and Ravindra Jadeja replaced Suresh Raina. Gambhir opted to bowl after winning the toss.
New Zealand openers strolled out in the middle under pressure to provide a confident start. But second ball from Zaheer and confidence of New Zealand team nose-dived into the deep sea of frustration as McCullum gave a regulation catch to second slip. Zaheer could have had Williamson in his next over but umpire Tarapore misread a plumb LBW call. It was all happening on Zaheer’s end. After hitting a four and a massive six in Zaheer’s 3rd over he ran himself out when he could not beat Gambhir’s direct hit at the non-striker’s end. At the start of bowling powerplay Zaheer struck again when he induced a faint edge behind off Taylor’s bat and New Zealand was now on the mat at 34 for 3. They just could not build partnerships. Munaf Patel joining in the demolition act got Williamson LBW to dent them further. Scott Styris could have added further to the New Zealand woes but a simple chance was missed by Yusuf Pathan at first slip off Munaf. Ashwin got Styris and New Zealand had lost half their side for just 77 runs in 23 overs. Vettori too failed to get his team out of the hole but he gifted his wicket to local boy Yusuf by guiding a turning ball to Yuvraj in the slip. Yusuf induced another edge to the leg slip and this time Hopkins was on his way. From 106 for 7 New Zealand surely had no hope but Nathan McCullum played a gutsy knock of 43 off 53 balls and shared a stand of 94 with Franklin who made a fighting 72 runs. They finished with 224 for 9. Zaheer, Pathan and Ashwin shared two wickets each.
Indian openers started well again with Gambhir starting off from where he left in the previous match. He took three fours in a McKay over who was struggling against him yet again. At the end of the mandatory powerplay they were 73 for naught with asking rate of only 3.80. Surely New Zealand would have opted to concede the match voluntarily if rules could permit. After surviving a dropped catch at the hands of keeper, Murali Vijay ran himself out for 30 with India sitting comfortably at 115 in 18.4 overs. New Zealand would have hoped for some quick wickets to have a chance of a miraculous recovery but in-form and India’s best ODI player of the year Virat Kohli ensured the contrary. Gambhir and Kohli remained intact till the end seeing through their team for a thumping victory once again. Captain again made an undefeated hundred, 126 0ff 117 balls with 16 boundaries while Kohli feasted with 6 fours and two sixes in his 63 runs. Gambhir again was uncontested for the man of the match award. India finished the game in the 40th over winning by nine wickets and taking the series 3-0 with two more games remaining.
New Zealand is heading for another white-wash and time, according to Brendon McCullum is running out for them with World Cup just few months away.
New Zealand openers strolled out in the middle under pressure to provide a confident start. But second ball from Zaheer and confidence of New Zealand team nose-dived into the deep sea of frustration as McCullum gave a regulation catch to second slip. Zaheer could have had Williamson in his next over but umpire Tarapore misread a plumb LBW call. It was all happening on Zaheer’s end. After hitting a four and a massive six in Zaheer’s 3rd over he ran himself out when he could not beat Gambhir’s direct hit at the non-striker’s end. At the start of bowling powerplay Zaheer struck again when he induced a faint edge behind off Taylor’s bat and New Zealand was now on the mat at 34 for 3. They just could not build partnerships. Munaf Patel joining in the demolition act got Williamson LBW to dent them further. Scott Styris could have added further to the New Zealand woes but a simple chance was missed by Yusuf Pathan at first slip off Munaf. Ashwin got Styris and New Zealand had lost half their side for just 77 runs in 23 overs. Vettori too failed to get his team out of the hole but he gifted his wicket to local boy Yusuf by guiding a turning ball to Yuvraj in the slip. Yusuf induced another edge to the leg slip and this time Hopkins was on his way. From 106 for 7 New Zealand surely had no hope but Nathan McCullum played a gutsy knock of 43 off 53 balls and shared a stand of 94 with Franklin who made a fighting 72 runs. They finished with 224 for 9. Zaheer, Pathan and Ashwin shared two wickets each.
Indian openers started well again with Gambhir starting off from where he left in the previous match. He took three fours in a McKay over who was struggling against him yet again. At the end of the mandatory powerplay they were 73 for naught with asking rate of only 3.80. Surely New Zealand would have opted to concede the match voluntarily if rules could permit. After surviving a dropped catch at the hands of keeper, Murali Vijay ran himself out for 30 with India sitting comfortably at 115 in 18.4 overs. New Zealand would have hoped for some quick wickets to have a chance of a miraculous recovery but in-form and India’s best ODI player of the year Virat Kohli ensured the contrary. Gambhir and Kohli remained intact till the end seeing through their team for a thumping victory once again. Captain again made an undefeated hundred, 126 0ff 117 balls with 16 boundaries while Kohli feasted with 6 fours and two sixes in his 63 runs. Gambhir again was uncontested for the man of the match award. India finished the game in the 40th over winning by nine wickets and taking the series 3-0 with two more games remaining.
New Zealand is heading for another white-wash and time, according to Brendon McCullum is running out for them with World Cup just few months away.
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