New Delhi:
Fifties from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, combined with an all-round performance from the Indian cricket team bowlers gave them a seven-wicket win in the third ODI at Bay Oval. With this win, India have won a series in New Zealand for the first time since 2009 and they have exracted revenge for their 0-4 series loss in 2014. Earlier, New Zealand chose to bat in Mount Maunganui and once again the openers fell cheaply to Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Ross Taylor looked to rebuild and he shared a 119-run stand with Tom Latham, who scored his 13th fifty. However, the hosts stumbled their way in the death overs losing too many wickets. Taylor missed out on his century as he was snapped up by Mohammed Shami and he ended with three wickets. New Zealand failed to bat out the full 50 overs again and India bowled them out for 243, which was not enough on this wicket. (SCORECARD)
Virat Kohli, Indian skipper: Three clinical games for us. Couldn't have asked for a better performance after the first two clinical games. The relentlessness of the side is something that really pleases me. It's been a very hectic Australian tour and now I go on a break very happy 3-0 up sealing the series. I can relax and enjoy my break. Someday someone has to take your place and that's how the game goes. Shubman is a very exciting talent and I saw him bat in the nets and I was like wow I was not even ten percent of that when I was 19.
Kane Williamson, New Zealand skipper: They are teaching us a lesson. There are improvements today and we want to appreciate some of the lessons we have learnt from their side. The consistency about their plans and the way they forced some mistakes I guess we gotta be better than that. The margins are large in white cricket but it does require a lot of improvement.
Mohammed Shami, Man of the Match: It's really difficult to bowl against the wind. One comes with the wind and the other is against the wind. It is difficult but not too hard. Bhuvi at the other end was also a great help.
India have finally done it. They win by seven wickets and win a series in New Zealand for the first time since 2009. Well done, Kohli and side.
Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik are getting India closer to a win in Bay Oval. This has been yet another dominant performance.
New Zealand continue to strive hard for a wicket but Ambati Rayudu has started off well.
Virat Kohli falls for 60 as he drives without moving his feet to cover point where Nicholls takes the catch. New Zealand are fighting but it might be a bit too late.
Virat Kohli hit his 49th fifty as India are in cruise control now. New Zealand are running out of ideas and the game is running away quickly from Kane Williamson's side.
Rohit Sharma hits his 39th fifty and second consecutive in the tour. His fine form continues and New Zealand are starting to get deflated.
Kohli slams a boundary off Sodhi and the partnership has gone past fifty. New Zealand struggling to contain this stand.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are building a solid partnership. The required run-rate is just hovering over five.
Rohit Sharma is nearing a fifty while Virat Kohli is also looking in good touch. India are still making good progress and the required rate is over 4.5.
Ever since the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, India's scoring rate has dipped. However, Rohit and Kohli can afford to take their time and build the innings.
No hat-trick of fifties from Shikhar Dhawan. He pokes at a back of a length ball from Boult as he edges to Ross Taylor at slip. Much-needed wicket for New Zealand.
Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have started off well. The left-hander, in particular, is looking in great touch again.
New Zealand have been bowled out for 243 in the 49th over. Ross Taylor the star with 93 but Mohammed Shami the star with 3/41. Middling total one feels on this wicket.
Virat Kohli drops a simple catch as Ish Sodhi and Doug Bracewell make good progress. Can India restrict New Zealand to under 250?
Ross Taylor will not get a century as he looks to steer a length ball close to the off stump but he gets an edge to Karthik. The batsman opts for the review but replays show a mark on Hot Spot. Fine innings from Taylor ends.
Hardik Pandya gets his second wicket as Santner toe-ends a cut shot to Dinesh Karthik. He is having a good comeback so far.
WICKET! Hardik Pandya gets another wicket and New Zealand are losing momentum in the death overs. Short ball on leg stump and Nicholls gloves the pull to Dinesh Karthik who takes the catch.
Latham dances down the track and slogs a flighted ball to deep midwicket but the timing is not right and he holes out to Ambati Rayudu. The partnership is broken.
Tom Latham scores his 13th ODI fifty and the partnership is hurting India. They need a wicket quickly.
Tom Latham clobbers Yuzvendra Chahal for a six to near his 13th fifty. New Zealand are building a solid partnership and the charge is on.
Ross Taylor scores his 46th ODI fifty and gets it in style by slamming two boundaries off Kedar Jadhav. He missed out in his first two ODIs but he is determined to make amends.
Taylor has been joined by Tom Latham but both are struggling to get going. The Indian bowlers are maintaining a tight leash.
New Zealand are struggling to increase the run-rate as the pitch becomes incredibly sluggish to bat on. Batting will not be easy on this total.
Brilliant catch from Hardik Pandya. Flighted ball from Chahal and Williamson dances down the track to whip it to mid wicket, but Pandya dives to his left to take a brilliant catch. Superb fielding.
Williamson and Taylor are slowly rebuilding for New Zealand as Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal operate in tandem. Hardik Pandya is nown into the attack.
Williamson gets going with a couple of boundaries and the New Zealand skipper is looking in great touch.
WICKET! New Zealand are not driving well. Full ball angled in outside off and it holds it's line, Guptill goes for the drive and the edge is taken by DK. New Zealand in trouble in the powerplay
Guptill breaks the shackles in style as he whips a full ball from Bhuvneshwar into the grass banks at deep mid wicket and then pummels a pull short to wide long on to get going.
Dinesh Karthik drops Colin Munro off Shami but the bowler still has the last laugh. Pitched up again and moving away slightly, Munro goes for the drive and the edge is taken at first slip by Rohit Sharma. Once again, New Zealand start poorly.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar opens the bowling along with Mohammed Shami and Colin Munro gets going with a lofted boundary off Shami.
Here are the playing XIs of both the sides
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik(w), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
New Zealand have won the toss and they have replaced Colin de Grandhomme with Mitchell Santner. However, India have been dealt a major blow with MS Dhoni out of the game due to a hamstring injury. Hardik Pandya has returned to the side in place of Vijay Shankar.
A warm welcome to the third ODI between India and New Zealand from the Bay Oval. A win for India will give them a series win for the first time sicne 2009 while New Zealand will be determined to keep the series win.
