Guwahati: Rain forced the cancellation of the third and final ODI of the three-match series between India and New Zealand, with the hosts having scored 104/1 in 18 overs at the time rain intervened and ended any chance of further play.
So, the Blackcaps prevailed 1-0 in the series.
The openers for New Zealand, Finn Allen and Devon Conway, amassed 97 runs without losing a wicket while chasing a score of 220. Allen reached his half-century in just 50 balls while destroying Indian bowlers all over the field.
Then, in the game’s 17th over, Umran Malik secured his team a significant victory by dismissing Allen for 57 off 54. Kane Williamson, the captain, was called to the crease by Allen’s dismissal. Williamson and Conway worked together to hammer Indian bowlers for boundaries while often taking singles.
Rain ended the game after 18 overs with Conway unbeaten at 38 off 51 and Williamson at 0 in three balls.
After being given the opportunity to bat first, India defeated New Zealand with a respectable total thanks to crucial runs from Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar, and the home team’s outstanding bowling effort to dismiss the Men in Blue for 219 points.
Sundar led India in scoring with 51 off 64, and Iyer added 49 runs in 59 deliveries to enable the visitors defeat the home team with a decent total.
For New Zealand, Tim Southee took two wickets, Adam Milne and Daryl Mitchell each collected three wicket hauls.
When India was given the opportunity to bat first, they had a disastrous start as they lost their opening pair of Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan within the first 13 overs of the match. India’s top order was shaken by Adam Milne’s dismissals of Gill for 13 off 22 and captain Dhawan for 28 off 45 deliveries, which left the Men in Blues’ total at 55/2 in the game’s 13th over.
The struggling Indian team then attempted to put together a partnership led by Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, who hammered the New Zealand bowlers everywhere on the field. The blazing partnership was, however, ended by Daryl Mitchell, who bowled Pant out after he had scored 10 runs off of 16 shots.
Suryakumar Yadav took the field to bat, but the talented player was unable to help his team out as Milne struck again for New Zealand, sending Suryakumar back to the pavilion after only scoring 6 runs in the game’s 25th over.
The game’s 26th over saw Shreyas Iyer leave after scoring 49 off 59 balls, falling one run short of his 14th ODI fifty. Lockie Ferguson had bowled the ball. Then Washington Sundar entered the game. India’s score after 30 over of play was 135/5.
Then, Tim Southee dealt India a severe blow when he bowled Deepak Hooda out for 12 runs off of 25 balls in the game’s 34th over, leaving India at 149/6. Then Deepak Chahar entered the game.
Sundar blasted Southee for eight runs with his next two consecutive fours. Indian batsmen are still being dominated by New Zealand pacers. Chahar then tried to play aggressively which cost him his wicket as he was sent back to the pavilion after scoring 12 runs in 9 balls.
Sundar reached his first ODI fifty in just 62 balls with a stunning, mighty six over mid-wicket. However, his time at the crease was cut short when Southee sent the batter back to the pavilion after scoring 51 off 64 balls in the game’s 48th over to dismiss India for 219 in 47.3 overs.