India vs New Zealand 2017: 5 reasons why India won the 3rd ODI

India edged past New Zealand in a cliffhanger to clinch the third ODI and hence grabbed the 3-match series, 2-1.

There were plenty of ebbs and flows in the match as both sides were never willing to concede an inch and the game went right down to the proverbial wire with India finally wrapping up the match by 6 runs.

India set a stiff target of 338 for New Zealand and the visitors put in a spirited chase but at the end, India's death overs bowling won the deal for them.

Here are the reasons why India managed to clinch the match and eventually the series.

#5 India's fielding performance

This match was, by all means, a battle between two fielding sides and perhaps the Indian fielders held their nerve better when it mattered the most towards the end of the New Zealand innings which propelled them to a win.

The boundary riders were exceptional under pressure and kept their cool when running after the ball. They were perfect with the throws back in to the keeper.

Perhaps this is the best Indian fielding unit in the recent past and they lived up to all the billing on the day when it mattered the most.

#4 Failure of New Zealand batsmen to convert starts

Latham could not carry his team through

Right through the chase, the visitors were in the contest but they could not clinch the match because none of the batsmen were able to convert their starts and conjure a big total which would have allowed New Zealand to reach the target.

Colin Munro, Tom Latham, and Ross Taylor all looked in great touch but they were not able to carry on and get their team across the line. Also, this allowed the Indian bowlers to target new batters towards the end which helped the hosts to get in dot balls towards the end.

#3 Yuzvendra Chahal's inspired spell in the middle overs

Chahal's stocks have risen exponentially

New Zealand were in the chase after a bright start by the openers but then Yuzvendra Chahal came into the attack and not only applied the brakes but also picked up the important wickets of Colin Munro and Kane Williamson.

The diminutive leg-spinner was at his best for the entire series but he peaked at the perfect time for the hosts as he ended with figures of 47 runs for 2 wickets in 10 overs.

He got brilliant drift and was perhaps the only spinner who extracted turn from the surface and this helped him keep the lid on the Kiwis.

#2 Rohit-Kohli partnership

A match-winning partnership

When it mattered the most, India's two best ODI batsmen in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepped up and scored individual centuries. They notched up a partnership of 230 for the second wicket and effectively batted New Zealand out of the series.

Rohit scored 147 and Kohli was dismissed for 113 and it was their partnership which was the primary reason behind India's eventual score of 337. Both the players took their time initially but unleashed as they settled down and delighted a packed Green Park with their vast range of strokes.

#1 Bumrah-Bhuvneshwar death overs bowling

Bumrah was exceptional

It was an off day for Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was taken to the cleaners by Colin Munro, but this did not come in his way when he came back to bowl in the death overs as he combined beautifully with Jasprit Bumrah to strangle the New Zealand batting in the final four overs.

New Zealand were firm favourites when they needed 35 runs in the final four overs but then Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah combined all over again and not only kept the runs down but kept picking up wickets to ensure New Zealand finished six runs adrift of the target.