New Zealand put up another dominating display in the field and defended 260 to level the 5-match series 2-2. The target was always going to be below par, but the Kiwi bowlers and fielders put in a spirited performance and never allowed the Indian chase to get going, and won the match by 19 runs.
Tim Southee and Trent Boult started off in fine fashion, and Southee got the important wicket of Rohit Sharma with an absolute peach outside off. Ish Sodhi then removed the biggest threat in Virat Kohli as he snapped up India’s chase master for 45. Things never looked up for the hosts and 4 wickets were lost in the middle overs to derail the Indian chase completely. Only Ajinkya Rahane offered some fight with a half-century, but the rest of the batting line-up were blown away by an inspired Kiwi performance.
Axar Patel and Amit Mishra put in some fight towards the end with a 38-run partnership, and Dhawal Kulkarni dragged it on till the last over, but it was never going to be enough.
The series is now beautifully set-up and the final match in Vishakhapatnam promises to be an absolute cracker.
Mitchell Santner on his crucial spell
It is good to have my family here. Nice to take a win with the series alive to Vizag. We watched Mishra and Axar bowl in the first innings and we saw that the ball was turning if we got it to pitch in the right areas and mix up the pace up well. It is always tough bowling to Virat and Dhoni and I was trying to bowl into the deck and let the pitch rip it up. I just tried to bowl that hard length and not try and do too much. Tried to build pressure and keep it simple. We had an above par score here but we knew that we had to fight hard. Eked out a couple of important wickets and carried it on from there.
MS Dhoni on his team's performance
I think we gave too many extras and too many runs early on. We could have done it still, with wickets in hand. It was good to see the lower order score runs, but wickets in hand would have been a good factor. I felt the wicket was best to bat in the afternoon and it kept getting slower. Older ball was not coming on. But with partnerships, this total could have been chased. A few of them played big shots but they will play 10-15 games and learn the trade. The new generation will play the strokes, they calculated, but there is a few amount of risk. You cannot tell them not to their strokes play, because then they will get into a shell. They will learn that if you go over the in-field, you have chances of getting out. We will lose a few but they will learn. With dew, you tend to bowl first because our spinners are not effective and we struggle to defend totals. But so far, dew hasn't been a factor this series. We have to be at our best in the decider, against New Zealand who are an experienced side.
Kane Williamson after his side defended with gusto again
Improved effort, exactly what we wanted. Had partnerships throughout on a tough surface. 260 was not a bad total and we had the extra spinner. 260 was not a bad total and we had the extra spinner. I think coming here with a game down, it was one of those confusing things. Dew may have come in or may not have. We just had to execute our skills well and it worked. I think so far in this ODI series we have played on a variety of surfaces. Has been long tour this. The guys have done well, executed their skills. When we get to Vizag, we need to have a look at the surface. A decider against India is a very exciting prospect.
Martin Guptill on being adjudged the Man of the Match
To put up a decent performance myself in defending a total, it's a great feeling. Everyone's ability to fight to the end. At the halfway point, bowlers had to do a job and they did well. At the halfway point, bowlers had to do a job and they did well. Virat is a class player, and to get him out early is always early. We have to keep pushing on. Didn't think (that my score of 72 will be the highest score in the match) but will take it any day."
Reactions from the cricketing fraternity
Anjum Chopra
Aakash Chopra
Andrew McGlashan
Simon Doull
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
