Pune: India produced a professional performance under pressure to beat New Zealand by six wickets in a must-win game and level the three-match ODI series 1-1 here at the MCA Stadium, Wednesday.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/45), who was adjudged the man of the match, led an inspired Indian bowling effort to restrict the Kiwis to a modest 230 for nine. Later, Shikhar Dhawan (68, 84b, 5×4, 2×6) and Dinesh Karthik (64 n o, 92b, 4×4) struck half centuries, enabling the hosts to complete the chase in 46 overs.
India, who had to bounce back following their shock loss in the series opener, proved their mettle with an all-round effort. The chase was comfortable for India despite losing Rohit Sharma cheaply for the second time in the series.
Dhawan was back to his best and played shots all around the ground en route to his 22nd ODI fifty. The southpaw shared a 57-run stand with skipper Virat Kohli (29) before adding 66 runs with Karthik, who too played a useful knock. Karthik, playing at No. 4 after coming in at five in the previous game, grabbed his opportunity with a ninth ODI fifty.
After Dhawan’s departure, Karthik and Hardik Pandya (30) forged a 59-run stand to put India on a comfortable platform the game for their team. However after Pandya’s dismissal, it was Karthik and the experienced MS Dhoni (18 n o), who completed the task.
Earlier, Kumar produced a fine swing bowling display while his pace colleague Jasprit Bumrah (2/38) and young leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2/36) supported him well. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel (1/54) too justified the team management’s decision to play him in place of Kuldeep Yadav, by removing the well-settled and in-form Tom Latham (38).
The Indian bowlers had New Zealand under their mercy from the onset, picking up wickets at regular intervals to reduce the visitors to 58 for four inside 16 overs. The hosts did not allow the New Zealand batsmen to settle down.
Latham and Henry Nicholls (42, 62b, 3×4) however played watchful cricket, adding 60 runs for the fifth wicket before Latham was bowled by Patel across the stumps while the batsman went for a sweep.
Nicholls then added a crucial 47 runs for the sixth wicket with Colin de Grandhomme (41, 40b, 5×4, 1×6). Towards the end, Mitchell Santner (29) and Tim Southee (25 n o) helped New Zealand reach the 230-run mark.
