AUCKLAND (New Zealand): New Zealand beat India by 22 runs in the second match to win the ODI series at the Eden Park on Saturday.
Veteran Ross Taylor and debutant Kyle Jamieson were the stars who piloted the hosts to series rendering the third game in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday inconsequential.
Taylor, who was also New Zealand’s hero with a century in the four-wicket victory in game one, set up the second success with 73 not out and an unbeaten 76-run partnership with the novice Jamieson.
Jamieson went to the middle with New Zealand 197 for eight and almost nine overs remaining following a spectacular collapse in which they lost seven wickets for 55 runs.
“It was about trying to stay there and stick with Ross and get to a score that we could defend in the end,” said Jamieson.
Kohli stays cool despite series defeat
India were dismissed for 251 with nine balls remaining in their innings, but captain Virat Kohli was not too despondent having already beaten New Zealand 5-0 n the Twenty20 series.
“One-day cricket in this calendar year is not as relevant if you look at the T20s and the Tests,” said Kohli.
New Zealand made a strong start with Martin Guptill (69) and Henry Nicholls (41) putting on 93 for the first wicket.
The Kiwis had problems against spinners Yuzendra Chahal (three for 53) and Ravindra Jadeja while Guptill was run out looking for a quick single.
In comparison after 41.3 overs, New Zealand were 197 for eight and India 202 for seven.
Ravindra Jadeja and Navdeep Saini put on 76 for the eighth wicket, but Jadeja’s 55 came off 73 balls only included two fours and one six.
The 274-run target set for India was not a difficult one given Eden Park’s short boundaries, but in the end it turned to be a disaster for the visitors.
