India Innings
Gautam Gambhir scored his second consecutive century of the series to take India to an easy 9-wicket win and with that the hosts have sealed the five-match Series 3-0. New Zealand surrendered literally as Gautam Gambhir strokes his way to a half century in just 30 balls and from that point onwards there was no looking back for the Southpaw and his team.
The Indian Captain put up 118 runs for the first wicket with Murali Vijay in 18.4 overs and then an unbroken stand of 114 with Virat Kohli to wrap up the chase of 225 in the 40th over itself. The only man to be dismissed was Murali Vijay who ran himself out after calling Gambhir for a non-existing single from short thirdman. Vijay scored 30 from 50 balls which included 3 fours and a majestic six off Vettori. Gambhir went onto stay unbeaten with 126 from 117 balls with 16 fours and Virat Kohli accelerated India towards the victory line with his unbeaten 63 from 70 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes.
New Zealand Innings
New Zealand have been rescued towards a respectable total of 224 for 9 thanks to an unbeaten 72 from James Franklin. Otherwise, the Kiwis were in tatters at 106 for 7 in the 30th over before off spinner Nathan McCullum joined Franklin to put up a 94-run partnership for the eight wicket.
India got a wicket of the very second ball of the match when Brendon McCullum poked at a Zaheer Khan delivery outside off to give a simple catch to second slip. The other opener - Guptill got out in the 6th over run out brilliantly by a direct throw from Gambhir while trying to steal a single. Ross Taylor was the third to be dismissed when he got a thin inside edge to the keeper while he was attempting an expansive drive through the line off Zaheer. New Zealand in the 16th over got reduced to 49 for 4 when Kane Williamson got lbw to a Munaf Patel off cutter.
Scott Styris who scored a fifty in the previous game got caught at leg slip to a sharp turning off break from Ashwin in the 23rd over after scoring 22 from 35 balls. Vettori and Hopkins too followed him in short time to have New Zealand in deep trouble at 106 for 7. Both these were caught by Yuvraj with Vettori edging a cut off Yusuf Pathan to slip and Hopkins flicking the same bowler to leg slip. After a massive stand of 94 runs, India finally got rid of Nathan McCullum (43 from 54 balls with 4 fours) in the 48th over when he slapped Ashwin to covers. New Zealand had a busy end to their innings with flurry of boundaries. Franklin remained undefeated on 72 from 108 balls with 5 fours and a six while Kyle Mills came up with a useful came of 15 from 9 balls which included a six off Zaheer Khan.
Toss and Teams