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After an embarrassing loss in the fourth ODI, India won the toss and opted to bat first in the final ODI against New Zealand at Wellington. The visitors were off to a shocking start yet again, as they lost both four wickets for just 18 runs.
Vijay Shankar and Ambati Rayudu brought India back into the game by stitching a crucial partnership. The former soon ran himself out in a mix up with his partner.
At the other end, Rayudu kept finding boundaries after completing his half-century. He got out for a well-made score of 90 runs to provide impetus to the Indian middle order for the World Cup.
Then came in Hardik Pandya with all guns blazing. The hard-hitter smashed Todd Astle for three consecutive sixes. This was the fifth time he achieved this feat in international cricket. His 22-ball 45, which included five sixes, ensured that India reached 252 before getting bowled out.
Chasing a small target, the Kiwis had a different opening pair in Colin Munro and Henry Nicholls. But the result was the same as both openers got out early yet again inside the power play. Mohammed Shami yet again starred with the ball.
The Kiwi batsmen kept getting starts but none of them could convert them into big scores as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Yuzvendra Chahal took three wickets for India while Shami and Pandya picked two wickets each. India won the final match by 35 runs to clinch the ODI series 4-1.
Here's how the cricketing fraternity reacted to India's dominant victory at Wellington.
Rohit Sharma: Especially after the Hamilton loss, that was a big loss for us the way we lost there. At the toss, I said we needed to come together as a team and we did that. Four down, we needed someone to apply, and Rayudu and Vijay Shankar did that. The way Hardik and Kedar played was magnificent. We showed a lot of character. With the ball as well. The wicket got flat at the end, with the dew. At one point it looked like it would be an easy chase. But a lot of people put their hands up and got us through. I knew there was some moisture in the pitch. If the series was on the line. Bowlers got crucial breakthroughs at critical times. When you want to win games, you've got to find the right balance. Coming here and beating NZ at home wasn't going to be easy. The achievement we've had today is a great achievement to have
Kane Williamson: It was a different surface which certainly was a challenge. We saw that with the ball in hand. Got away from us towards the end which probably took them at par or probably more. Scoring rate never got away from us but it was just that we lost wickets at the wrong time. They did it pretty well through Rayudu with 90. For long parts, they didn't score. We know how well India bowl on any surface. Their accuracy. If we could've taken the partnerships deeper, like with Tom Latham and myself, it could've been different. Credit to India throughout this series. They've taught us a few lessons in our own conditions. They're a world class outfit, they deserve the series win. We need to learn from these lessons. It's a game of pressure. Throughout this series, they had us under more pressure than we would've liked.
Ambati Rayudu: It was very tough against a quality bowling attack. Was thinking we should take the game to 30th over without losing another wicket. Our only plan was to play the full fifty overs. Especially for people batting at four, five and six, you get opportunities only when the situation is tough. Don't think setting totals has ever been an issue. That was a one-off game in Hamilton. Might face similar challenges in future. Great effort by our bowlers.
Virender Sehwag
Aakash Chopra
Gaurav Kalra
Mohandas Menon
Rajneesh Gupta
Mazher Arshad
Harsha Bhogle
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