Sri Lanka triangular series 2010: India v New Zealand, 6th ODI
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
India and New Zealand both faced a must-win situation entering the sixth match of the triangular series. India had only five points to New Zealand's seven; the situation was even more critical for the Indians. A no-result would have been of tremendous benefit for the Kiwis, making the weather and the pitch equally important for this fixture. Both teams vied for the right to play Sri Lanka in the final. India won the toss and elected to bat first on a dicey pitch.
MS Dhoni's decision looked equally dicey when Kyle Mills dismissed Dinesh Karthik for nought in the first over. Twenty-seven runs later, Virat Kohli became the first of four victims for Tim Southee on the day; India was 27/2 in the sixth over. Virender Sehwag continued to bat with authority, while Yuvraj Singh made six uncertain runs in a 34-run third-wicket partnership. Singh's misery ended with the score on 61. New Zealand reduced India to 66/4 before MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag combined for a 107-run fifth-wicket partnership that rescued the Indians.
Sehwag's departure in the 33rd over precipitated a collapse that saw India move from 173/4 to 207/9. Sehwag made a brilliant century – 110 off 93 balls, with 16 fours and one six. MS Dhoni contributed a valuable 38 runs; Ravindra Jadeja was the only other batsman to cross double figures, with 17 runs. India reached 223 all out off 46.3 overs. Bowling for New Zealand, Tim Southee scalped 4/49 off ten overs and offspinner Nathan McCullum took 3/35 off his allotment.
New Zealand struggled from the start of their innings. Guptill, Watling, Taylor and Styris were all back in the pavilion with the total on 22. Praveen Kumar's medium pace bowling destroyed the New Zealand top order. Things got even worse for the Kiwis when the score reached 41/4. The Indians reduced them to 53/8. Munaf Patel's three wickets was chiefly responsible for the mid-innings destruction of the Kiwi run chase.
Only a combative half-century from number nine batsman Kyle Mills spared the Kiwis' blushes. Mills scored 52 runs from just 35 balls as New Zealand struggled to 118 all out. Mills was the last batsman out, as New Zealand lost by a whopping 105 runs. Bowling for India, Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel took three wickets each. Virender Sehwag was the player of the match for his century that propelled India to their match-winning total.
Match Summary (India Won by 105 Runs)
India– 223/10 in 46.3 Overs
V.Sehwag- 110 M.S.Dhoni– 38
T.Southee- 10-2-49-4 N.McCullum– 10-0-35-3
New Zealand– 118/10 in 30.1 Overs
K.Mills- 52 K.Willimason– 13
M.Patel- 7-1-21-3 P.Kumar– 8-2-34-3
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