Ind vs NZ: At the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, the Indian bowlers performed such wonders that victory slipped away from New Zealand's hands. Batting first in the fifth ODI, Team India was reduced to just 209 runs. In reply, New Zealand had a strong hold on the match by scoring 82 runs for two wickets. It seemed that the Kiwi team would easily achieve the target and level the series at 2-2, but the Indian bowlers changed the course of the match. The entire New Zealand team was bundled out for 187 runs and India registered a spectacular victory by 22 runs. With this victory, Team India won the five-match series 3-1.
India wins ODI series in New Zealand after seven years
With this victory, India has won the ODI series on New Zealand soil after seven years. Earlier, Team India had won the five-match ODI series 4-1 in 2018-19. At the same time, New Zealand also had to face defeat in the ODI series on its home ground after seven years.
Arshdeep Singh and Mohammad Siraj were the big heroes of India's victory. Arshdeep took three wickets, while Siraj got two wickets. Arshdeep shook the top order of the Kiwi team. He sent Will Young (22), Christian (16) and Nick Kelly (24) to the pavilion. At the same time, Siraj took the wickets of Finn Allen (1) and Tim Seifert (14).
Two wickets for 82 runs, then suddenly New Zealand faltered
New Zealand did not have a good start while chasing the target of 210 runs. The team got its first blow on the total score of 26 runs. Tim Seifert was out after scoring 14 runs in 21 balls with the help of two fours. After this, Will Young and Nick Kelly tried to handle the innings by making a partnership of 38 runs. Young returned with 22 runs in 42 balls, while Kelly scored 24 runs in 45 balls with the help of two fours.
At one time New Zealand's score was 82 runs for two wickets. But after this, the Indian bowlers created such pressure that the Kiwi team lost four wickets by the time they reached the score of 83 runs.
The team could not even save the partnership of Foxcroft-Bracewell
After continuous fall of wickets, Dean Foxcroft and Michael Bracewell took charge. There was a partnership of 36 runs between the two. However, the Indian bowlers did not allow this pair to last long. Foxcroft was out after scoring 31 runs in 42 balls, while Bracewell scored 19 runs in 33 balls. New Zealand's fifth and sixth wickets fell at the score of 119 runs.
After this, Mitchell Santner and Christian Clarke tried to handle the team by adding 39 runs. Santner scored 24 runs in 31 balls with one four and two sixes. At the same time, Clarke was out after scoring 16 runs in 35 balls. During this period, New Zealand's score increased from six wickets for 158 runs to eight wickets for 161 runs.
The last pair raised hopes, but India did not give a chance
New Zealand's hopes now rested on Blair Tickner and Jacob Duffy. Both of them raised hopes of making a comeback in the match by making a partnership of 20 runs, but the Indian bowlers maintained the pressure. Tickner was out after scoring 14 runs and Duffy after scoring nine runs. In this way, the entire New Zealand team was reduced to 187 runs and India won the match by 22 runs.
Akshar and Ishaan took over the Indian innings
Earlier, the Indian team, which came to bat after losing the toss, was all out after scoring 209 runs in 42.1 overs. For India, Akshar Patel and Ishan Kishan scored the maximum 46-46 runs. Akshar faced 55 balls, while Ishaan scored this score in 58 balls.
The start of the Indian innings was not good. Rohit Sharma was out after scoring seven runs and Virat Kohli was out after scoring five runs. Captain Shreyas Iyer and Naman Dheer contributed 22 runs each.
Arshdeep Singh and Mohammad Siraj added important runs in the last overs. Arshdeep scored 14 runs in just four balls, while Siraj scored 14 runs in 20 balls. Both of them played an important role in taking the team score of 183 runs for nine wickets to 209. This small score of the Indian batsmen was converted into victory by the bowlers with their brilliant performance.
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