India has finally won the five-match series 4-1 against New Zealand in Kiwi team’s backyard. This win was extremely important for the Indian side as they are the third team to win a bilateral ODI series 4-1 in New Zealand.
The series was led by Indian Skipper Virat Kohli for the first three ODIs, but he was rested for the last two. Kiwi captain Kane Williamson was all in defeat and praised the Indian side.
“Credit to India throughout this series. They’ve taught us a few lessons in our own conditions. They’re a world class outfit, they deserve the series win. We need to learn from these lessons. It’s a game of pressure. Throughout this series, they had us under more pressure than we would’ve liked,” Williamson said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
India lost the fourth ODI in an embarrassing fashion and it looked like they were en route for a similar result in the fifth and final ODI match when India were only 18 for four. Rohit Sharma (2), Shikhar Dhawan (6), Shubman Gill (7) and MS Dhoni (1) fell to New Zealand bowling attack.
It was Ambati Rayudu and Vijay Shankar’s 98-run partnership which helped India hold ground. Then Hardik Pandya came in and smashed 45 off 22 to take India to a respectable total and gave his team 253 runs to defend.
“It was a different surface which certainly was a challenge. We saw that with the ball in hand. Got away from us towards the end which probably took them at par or probably more. Scoring rate never got away from us but it was just that we lost wickets at the wrong time. They did it pretty well through Rayudu with 90. For long parts, they didn’t score. We knew it was going to be tough,” Kane Williamson said.
India won the match by 35-runs. They are all set to play New Zealand in a three-match Twenty20 International series which starts this Wednesday.
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