Former Indian player Sanjay Manjrekar has lauded Men in Blue after they defeated New Zealand in the third ODI to clinch the five-match series. India on Monday won the third match by seven wickets to take 3-0 lead in the series.
It was India’s second ODI series win in New Zealand and first in a decade. “I am seeing an Indian team now that I fantasized about as a player,” Manjrekar tweeted.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made half centuries in a 113-run partnership to steer India to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the third one-day international on Monday and a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. After its eight-wicket win in the first match and its 90-run win in the second, India achieved another effortless victory, overtaking New Zealand’s 243 with seven overs to spare. Sharma was out for 62, his 38th ODI half century and his second of the series after his 87 in the second match at the same venue on Saturday. Kohli was out for 60 after making 45 and 43 in the first two matches.
The success of the Indian run chase wasn’t in doubt after Kohli and Sharma guided the tourists to 152-2 before their partnership was broken in the 29th over. The New Zealand bowlers have managed to take only nine India wickets in the three matches to date. Ambati Rayudu made 40 and Dinesh Karthik 38 in an unbroken partnership of 77 for the fourth wicket to see India home after 43 overs, the winning runs coming with five wides among 16 bowled by New Zealand. Karthik also kept wicket in place of M.S. Dhoni, who has a hamstring strain.