New Zealand vs India 2014 - 3rd ODI: Which of the two teams will rue not winning the game?

At the end of 44 overs, India found themselves at 261-6, needing 54 runs off the last 6 overs and the impetus was firmly with them. The first ball of the 45th over was sent flying into the night sky by Ashwin off Nathan McCullum for a massive six, and India were well in sight of the target.

On the 5th ball of the over, you could say that Ashwin was way too ambitious, and went for another hoick, this time over mid-wicket, but a piece of brilliance from Martin Guptill to remain aware of the boundary rope and the ball in air saw him pull off a ripper of a catch to dismiss Ashwin.

Statement innings from Jaddu!

Jadeja stood firm though, and with 18 required off the last over of the Indian innings, the odds would have favoured Corey Anderson and New Zealand to thwart any Indian miracle. But Jadeja was here to prove the bookies wrong, and with a couple of fours and a six in the first five balls of the over, you thought that Jadeja could score the required two runs off the last ball and clinch it for Team India.

Straight after he struck the six over deep mid-wicket, there was ambiguity on the face of Jadeja in not knowing what to do off the last ball of the match.

Brendon McCullum had pushed all the fielders right back on the leg-side boundary, and it was tantalizingly setup for Jadeja to steal a brace, if he was to prefer such an option. Anderson went for the wide yorker outside the off-stump, and Jadeja could manage only a single to the man at extra-cover and the the game ended in a ‘tie’.

That being said, which of the two teams will be disappointed at the end of the game? From the series’ perspective, India will certainly be dejected at not pulling off a win and reducing the series deficit to 1. New Zealand on the other hand, will be disappointed at not going 3-0 up, but if they can compose themselves and repeat their performances from the first couple of ODIs, there’s no reason why they can’t complete the series win in the 4th one-dayer.

At the end of it all, Cricket is the winner, and ICC should take notice of games such as this one. No need of tinkering with the format.

It’s exciting, exhilarating and nerve-wracking!