The ODI series between India and New Zealand was leveled at one apiece going into the final ODI at the Green Park Stadium, Kanpur. The last game turned out to be a thrilling encounter and a fitting end to a highly competitive series. India ended up winning another series by 2-1 but it was the toughest one in the recent times.
Initially, it was the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson who elected to field first after winning the toss. Indian openers began well and handled the swing bowlers well until Shikhar Dhawan fell for 14 in the hunt to go for a big shot. The first wicket brought the Indian captain Virat Kohli to the crease to accompany Rohit Sharma.
The duo put up a show of classy batting and literally manhandled the bowlers. There was absolutely no respite from the two right-handers as a wonderful partnership of 230 put India firmly in control. Rohit scored 147 off 138 balls while Kohli made 113 off 106 balls. The late cameos from MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav took the hosts to a massive 337/6 after 50 overs.
In reply, the Black Caps came out all guns blazing. Colin Munro hit the first ball he faced for a six and made his intentions clear. Martin Guptill struggled and was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for 10 but it didn’t impact Munro’s game as he kept scoring at the rate of knots. Williamson too didn’t waste much time in getting going and the chase was well and truly on.
A partnership of 109 ended when Munro was sent back by Yuzvendra Chahal for 75. The leg-spinner went on to remove the Kiwi captain soon for 64 as the visitors were down to 168/3 in the 29th over. From then on, Tom Latham took the matters into his own hands and guided the innings beautifully initially with the support of Ross Taylor and then, Henry Nicholls.
With just 35 required from the last 4 overs, the visitors were the favorites to win but an untimely run out of Latham swung the balance in India’s favor. Bhuvneshwar played his part well at the death but the real hero for India, once again, proved to be Jasprit Bumrah whose yorkers helped India win the match in the last over by 6 runs.
Here is how the Twitteratis hailed the Indian victory
https://twitter.com/ImRaina/status/924595535385899011
https://twitter.com/SirJadeja/status/924671872024772608
And that's a wrap from Kanpur. #TeamIndia seal the 3-match ODI series 2-1 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/yA27kd9Cva
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 29, 2017
What a thriller! New Zealand's brave attempt to win their first ODI series in India ends six runs shorthttps://t.co/XNvCGKCVpn #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/rRFW7MwqiY
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 29, 2017
The KING reaffirms his dominance – 2nd hundred of the #INDvNZ series. @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/TJZ3cQxXVb
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/924667713225596929
9000 ODI runs for the Skipper #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/36SGtHAHZb
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 29, 2017
Looooove It…..well done Team India #AakashVani #IndvNZ pic.twitter.com/ZkxhAyZeDo
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 29, 2017
NZ in bilateral series deciders in India:
Mumbai(BS), 1995: Lost by six wkts
Delhi, 1999: Lost by seven wkts
Vizag, 2016: Lost by 190 runs
Kanpur, 2017: Lost by six runs#INDvNZ— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/cricketaakash/status/924664276974845952
Fewest ODIs to 50 wickets for India:
23 A Agarkar
28 J BUMRAH*
29 Mohammed Shami
31 Irfan Pathan
32 Amit Mishra#INDvNZ— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) October 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/SanjayMsd07/status/924598514327339008
Jasprit Bumrah has risen another notch as a top end overs bowler. Calm and effective
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 29, 2017
Since he made his ODI debut, no one has taken more wickets in death overs (41-50) than Jasprit Bumrah.#IndvNZ
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) October 29, 2017
Two centuries from Indian batsmen but my Man of the Match is the man with two wickets. Jasprit Bumrah. Bat canceled bat…Boom Boom won it.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 29, 2017
This finish just shows how good India's death bowling is these days. #INDvNZ #NZvIND
— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) October 29, 2017
35 were needed in 4 overs at this stage. Duaaon me bahut taakat hai , Bumrah aur Bhuvi ke skills me bhi. Badhhai Team India. https://t.co/GOyuQaHB4t
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 29, 2017
The name of Indian Cricket team's captain is Mahendra Kohli.
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 29, 2017
Well done team India for hard fought series win,Virat Rohit bumrah special effort guys #IndvsNZ
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/924668275396509696
Bumrah was simply outstanding in the end. NZ fought really well but India were simply relentless to win the series after being 1-0 down
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 29, 2017
