Rampant India devour the Kiwis in their curry
Hosts thrash New Zealand to win ODI series 5-0.
CHENNAI:
Ravichandran Ashwin led a devastating spin attack as India thrashed New Zealand by eight wickets in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) for a 5-0 series clean sweep. The off-spinner grabbed three wickets for 24 runs off eight overs to help the hosts bowl out New Zealand for 103 off 27 overs before India coasted to the target with almost 29 overs to spare.
Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan chipped in with two wickets apiece as New Zealand were bundled out for their lowest total in ODIs against India. “It was fantastic to see our bowlers perform even after sealing the series 4-0,” said India captain Gautam Gambhir. “I thought the wicket would turn in the second innings, but it started turning in the first over itself. I always felt we had the talent to win 5-0.”
Parthiv Patel (56 not out) struck his second half-century in a row and added 97 runs for the third wicket with Yuvraj (42 not out) to guide India to a comfortable win in the day-night game. New Zealand suffered their second series whitewash on the trot, having lost 4-0 to Bangladesh in a preceding ODI series. “It was an incredibly difficult wicket to bat,” said captain Daniel Vettori. “We thought we would put up a decent score, but India bowled really well. When you continue to lose wickets, it takes the entire momentum away.”
Early setback for India
India’s chase was rocked by early setbacks with Gambhir and Virat Kohli being dismissed inside the first four overs. Gambhir edged Nathan McCullum behind the stumps off the third ball of the innings and Kohli was snapped up in the slips off Vettori. Patel survived some early jitters to hit six fours and a six in his 70-ball knock. Yuvraj, named man-of-the-match, smashed six fours and two sixes off 46 balls.
No solace for New Zealand
Nothing went right for New Zealand after Vettori won the toss and elected to bat. Praveen Kumar removed Martin Guptill with his fourth delivery before Ashish Nehra dismissed Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in successive overs. The Indian spinners, led by Ashwin, then got into action, accounting for the rest of the seven wickets to fall.
New Zealand’s batsmen struggled in overcast conditions, with a 43-run stand by Jamie How (23) and Scott Styris (24) the only decent effort.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2010.
Ravichandran Ashwin led a devastating spin attack as India thrashed New Zealand by eight wickets in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) for a 5-0 series clean sweep. The off-spinner grabbed three wickets for 24 runs off eight overs to help the hosts bowl out New Zealand for 103 off 27 overs before India coasted to the target with almost 29 overs to spare.
Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan chipped in with two wickets apiece as New Zealand were bundled out for their lowest total in ODIs against India. “It was fantastic to see our bowlers perform even after sealing the series 4-0,” said India captain Gautam Gambhir. “I thought the wicket would turn in the second innings, but it started turning in the first over itself. I always felt we had the talent to win 5-0.”
Parthiv Patel (56 not out) struck his second half-century in a row and added 97 runs for the third wicket with Yuvraj (42 not out) to guide India to a comfortable win in the day-night game. New Zealand suffered their second series whitewash on the trot, having lost 4-0 to Bangladesh in a preceding ODI series. “It was an incredibly difficult wicket to bat,” said captain Daniel Vettori. “We thought we would put up a decent score, but India bowled really well. When you continue to lose wickets, it takes the entire momentum away.”
Early setback for India
India’s chase was rocked by early setbacks with Gambhir and Virat Kohli being dismissed inside the first four overs. Gambhir edged Nathan McCullum behind the stumps off the third ball of the innings and Kohli was snapped up in the slips off Vettori. Patel survived some early jitters to hit six fours and a six in his 70-ball knock. Yuvraj, named man-of-the-match, smashed six fours and two sixes off 46 balls.
No solace for New Zealand
Nothing went right for New Zealand after Vettori won the toss and elected to bat. Praveen Kumar removed Martin Guptill with his fourth delivery before Ashish Nehra dismissed Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in successive overs. The Indian spinners, led by Ashwin, then got into action, accounting for the rest of the seven wickets to fall.
New Zealand’s batsmen struggled in overcast conditions, with a 43-run stand by Jamie How (23) and Scott Styris (24) the only decent effort.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2010.