Ind vs NZ 3rd ODI: Virat Kohli and co beat Kiwis by 6 runs, clinch series 2-1

Kanpur: Virat Kohli’s Team India continued their domination at home, as they defeated Kane Williamson’s New Zealand by six runs to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1.

After having elected to bowl, nothing went according to Kiwi’s plan, as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma put up a 230-run partnership after losing Shikhar Dhawan early.

However, Rohit Sharma’s innings came to an end as he was dismissed for 147. This was followed by captain Kohli’s dismissal, who departed for 113 runs. Following Kohli’s wicket, Dhoni and Jadhav put up a 29-run partnership, but the latter went back just before the end of innings.

In reply, the Kiwis got off to a strong start, scoring 100 runs in the first 15 overs. Despite good knocks from Colin Munro (75), Kane Williamson (64) and Tom Latham (65), the Kiwis were unable to capitalise on the momentum, as they lost wickets in a flurry in the last 10 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah picked three wickets, while Yuzvendra Chahal picked up two wickets for India, whereas Bhuvneshwar Kumar got one wicket.

New Zealand innings

New Zealand 247-4 from 40.1 overs

WICKET! Jasprit Bumrah has got the crucial wicket of Ross Taylor. This is a crucial breakthrough for the hosts.

New Zealand 247-3 from 40 overs

Heroes of the first match Ross Taylor and Tom Latham have helped New Zealand in the fightback, as they just require less than 100 runs in the last 10 overs.

New Zealand 205-3 from 34 overs

A boundary by Tom Latham brought up New Zealand's 200, as the visitors looked to recover from Williamson's wicket later in the match. Yuzvendra Chahal has done a good job with the ball, piucking up wickets of Munro and Williamson.

New Zealand 168-3 from 28.4 overs

WICKET! Chahal has done the trick once again, as he has removed captain Kane Williamson. Can the Kiwis recover from here?

New Zealand 153-2 from 24.2 overs

WICKET! Yuzvendra Chahal has seen off Colin Munro, who departs for 75.

New Zealand 140-1 from 22 overs

Captain Kane Williamson got to his 32^nd ODI fifty, as he took the Kiwis to a commanding position. Colin Munro has been supporting him from the other end, as India search for a breakthrough.

New Zealand 100-1 from 15 overs

New Zealand have brought up their century mark, while Colin Munro got to his fourth ODI fifty.

New Zealand 74-1 from 10 overs

After losing Guptill early, captain Kane Williamson and Colin Munro have recovered the Kiwis from avoiding an early blow. However, nothing has gone right for Bhuvneshwar Kumar as he has conceded 51 runs in five overs without taking a wicket.

New Zealand 44-1 from 5.1 overs

WICKET! Jasprit Bumrah has got his 50th ODI wicket as he has seen off Martin Guptill.

New Zealand 44-0 after 5 overs

Openers Colin Munro and Martin Guptill have got the visitors off to a strong start in the run chase, as they have not lost a wicket so far. Having scored 19 runs in the first over, it was a best start by the Kiwis. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, in the fourth over, came into play as he just conceded one run in that over.

India innings:

Kanpur: India posted a mammoth total of 337-6 from 50 overs in the third ODI against New Zealand here, thanks to fantastic tons by Rohit Sharma (147) and captain Virat Kohli (113), who put up a 230-run partnership in the third and final ODI of the series.

After winning the toss, New Zealand elected to bowl. The hosts lost Shikhar Dhawan early, but the duo of Rohit and Kohli ensured the Men in Blue were in the driver’s seat, and were all set to post a huge total.

During the Indian innings, Kohli not only notched up his 32nd ODI ton, but also became the fastest cricketer to reach 9000 ODI runs (194 innings), surpassing South African AB de Villiers’ record, who took 205 innings to reach the milestone.

Rohit, meanwhile, just fell three runs short of 150, as he departed for 147. Hardik Pandya was the man in at number four, but his innings was short-lived as he departed for eight runs, thanks to a catch by Tim Southee at long-off.

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However, Kohli’s innings (113 runs) also had to come to an end, after he was fallen to the hands of Kane Williamson at long-off, as Tim Southee celebrated the wicket. MS Dhoni soon followed that up, as he was dismissed by Adam Milne in first ball of the final over. 

For the Kiwis, Tim Southee and Mitchell Santner starred with the ball, as they picked up two wickets each, while Adam Milne got two wickets in the final over of the innings.

India 307/4 from 47 overs:

WICKET! End of Kohli's innings as Tim Southee gets his second wicket. The Indian skipper is out caught at long-off. End of another fine innings.

India 275/3 from 44 overs:

WICKET! Santner has struck again as he sends Hardik Pandya packing. New Zealand will be delighted to see Pandya's back quickly.

India 273/2 from 43.1 overs:

HUNDRED! The Indian run-machine churns out another ton. 2nd in the series, 32nd in ODIs and 6th this year. Surreal this is!

India 264/2 from 42 overs

WICKET! Some relief for New Zealand as Mitchell Santner ends Rohit Sharma's innings. The Indian vice-captain scored 147 as  he and captain Kohli put in 230-run stand. Outstanding knock in a series-decider.

India 252/1 from 40 overs

India upping the ante and how! Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who has broken AB de Villiers' record to become fastest to score 9000 ODI runs, have cut loose as New Zealand fail to stop the juggernaut. India looking good for 325, at least.

India 185/1 from 33 overs

HUNDRED! Ton number 15th for Rohit Sharma in ODIs. He looked at ease since the first ball today and he has made it count. Kohli, meanwhile, has notched up his 46th ODI fifty. Ominous signs for New Zealand.

India 134-1 from 25 overs:

Halfway through the innings, India have dominated the match so far, with the partnership between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma crossing 100. The only wicket for the Kiwis have been that of Shikhar Dhawan, who departed in the seventh over.

India 127-1 from 23 overs

Rohit Sharma has got to 1000 runs in ODI cricket in 2017. Both Rohit and Kohli are currently looking settled now, as the innings close in on the halfway mark.

India 91-1 from 17 overs

FIFTY! Rohit Sharma has got to his 35th ODI fifty after playing a calm and composed innings. Virat Kohli has been supporting him from the other end, as Team India inch closer to 100.

India 53/1 from 10 overs:

And straightaway Virat Kohli is in the groove. Two lovely-looking fours, one a little whip through the leg-side and one through the off-side. The Indian skipper is looking good as Rohit has started to open his shoulder. Fifty up for India.

India 29/1 from 6.1 overs:

WICKET! End of the opening partnership. Shikhar Dhawan has mistimed his shot. The ball seemed to be dipping a bit but Kane Williamson has done well to take that catch at mid-off. In comes Virat Kohli.

India 22/0 after 5 overs:

No high voltage drama but Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have looked good even as the New Zealand new-ball bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee don't offer too many freebies.

In the series decider, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson wins the toss and elected to bowl against Virat Kohli-led India at the Green Park Stadium here on Sunday.

New Zealand and India have made no changes to their playing XI which featured in the Pune ODI. This means, chinaman Kuldeep Yadav won't get a chance to play on his homeground.

With the series tied at 1-1 with an ODI to be played, a thrilling finish is on the cards as Virat Kohli-led India take on Kane Williamson’s New Zealand at the Green Park Stadium, which will be hosting its first day-night encounter here on Sunday.

While the visitors, who have a rich history of punching above their weight, beat India in the first ODI of the series in Mumbai, the hosts made a strong comeback in Pune in the second ODI to keep alive the series.

However, the hometeam will need to once again come up with a top-notch performance to win the seventh consecutive ODI bilateral series as New Zealand target to become first team since South Africa (2015) to clinch a bilateral series on the Indian soil.

While Indian bowlers had a rare off day at the Wankhede Stadium, they – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel, who replaced Kuldeep Yadav – were in a top form as India restricted New Zealand for 230 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium encounter.

The Kiwi side, meanwhile, will want the likes of Trent Boult, who scalped four wickets in the first ODI, Tim Southee, Adam Milne and Mitchell Santner to fire in the series decider.

In batting, while Virat Kohli has been in a good nick with a hundred in the first match, Dinesh Karthik, who scored an unbeaten half-century in the Pune ODI and 37 in the Mumbai ODI, and Shikhar Dhawan will hold a key. Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, have failed to offer much in the first two games.

For New Zealand, Tom Latham and Ross Taylor have been the standout performers with the bat while skipper Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill have struggled to get going.

While India will bank on their superior form in the recent times and the home conditions, the visitors, who came close to win an ODI series the last time they were here, will look to topple India in Kanpur and clinch the series.

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain), Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, George Worker and Ish Sodhi.

Match-timings:

The match is scheduled to start at 1.30 P.M. IST.