2nd Test: Kohli, Dhoni take India to series sweep

Hosts survive scare to complete 5-wicket win over New Zealand; take series 2-0.

BANGALORE:

India survived a mini collapse to sweep the series against a fighting New Zealand with a five-wicket victory on the penultimate day of the second and final Test in Bangalore yesterday.

The hosts slipped from 152 for two to 166 for five before achieving their 261-run target in the final session.

This  was thanks to a 96-run stand between man-of-the-match Virat Kohli (51*) and skipper MS Dhoni (48*) under pressure. India won the opening Test by an innings and 115 runs in Hyderabad.

New Zealand fought well as they twice neutralised India’s advantage to storm back into the match on a good pitch before Dhoni and Kohli steered their team home.

The Indian captain finished the match with a six over mid-wicket off Jeetan Patel, who took three wickets.

“Virat’s batting was superb, he fought well and soaked up the pressure,” said Dhoni. “We all knew that after 40-45 overs it would easier. The spinners bowled brilliantly and the catching was good.”

India were 77 without loss after brisk knocks from Virender Sehwag (38) and Gautam Gambhir (34) and then 152 for two following a 69-run stand between Cheteshwar Pujara (48) and Sachin Tendulkar (27) before New Zealand struck back with quick wickets.

“We had our chances and showed character to come back from a terrible Test in Hyderabad,” said New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor.

“We came with some standards we wanted to maintain, which we did in patches. The way Kohli and Dhoni batted was outstanding.”

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin finished with five for 69, his third five-wicket haul in four innings against New Zealand, and was named man of the series for his outstanding performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2012.