MOHALI: Indian batsman Virat Kohli raises bat after scoring the century during the third ODI against New Zealand on Sunday.—AP
MOHALI: Indian batsman Virat Kohli raises bat after scoring the century during the third ODI against New Zealand on Sunday.—AP

MOHALI: Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 154 to make short work of a seemingly steep target as India beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the third One-day International in Mohali to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series on Sunday.

New Zealand, who won the last match in Delhi to tie the series at 1-1, were all out for 285 in the 50th over after India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to field at the PCA Stadium.

India chased down the target with 10 balls to spare, riding on Kohli’s 26th century in the 50-over format that included 16 boundaries and one six.

The hosts lost both their openers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane inside nine overs and, with the required run rate climbing, needed a solid partnership to get back on track.

Kohli, who was dropped on six by Ross Taylor off Matt Henry, and Dhoni (80), who promoted himself up the batting order to number four, provided just that with a brisk third-wicket stand of 151 runs.

India’s Test captain Kohli, who will turn 28 next month, finished things off with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 97 with Manish Pandey (28 not out).

With India needing 23 from 18 balls, the stylish right-handed batsman, who scored an unbeaten 85 in the first ODI, tore into paceman Trent Boult, hitting three fours and a six in his over to plunder 22 runs.

Earlier, James Neesham (57) and Matt Henry (39 not out) added 84 for the ninth wicket to prop up New Zealand after the touring side had been reduced to 199 for eight following a middle-order collapse.

Opener Tom Latham was the top-scorer for New Zealand with a 61 and the side were comfortably placed at 153 for two in the 29th over with a promising stand of 73 between Latham and Taylor (44).

But they lost their next six wickets for 46 runs needing some rearguard action from Neesham and Henry.

Paceman Umesh Yadav and off-spinner Kedar Jadhav each picked up three wickets for the hosts though the former proved expensive, giving away 75 runs in his 10 overs.

The fourth ODI will be played in Ranchi on Wednesday.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND:

M.J. Guptill lbw b Yadav 27 T.W.M. Latham c Pandya b Jadhav 61 K.S. Williamson lbw b Jadhav 22 L.R.P.L. Taylor st Dhoni b Mishra 44 C.J. Anderson c Rahane b Jadhav 6 L. Ronchi st Dhoni b Mishra 1 J.D.S. Neesham c Jadhav b Yadav 57 M.J. Santner c Kohli b Bumrah 7 T.G. Southee b Yadav 13 M.J. Henry not out 39 T.A. Boult b Bumrah 1

EXTRAS (W-7) 7

TOTAL (all out, 49.4 overs) 285

FALL OF WKTS: 1-46, 2-80, 3-153, 4-160, 5-161, 6-169, 7-180, 8-199, 9-283.

BOWLING: Yadav 10-0-75-3 (3w); Pandya 5-0-34-0 (2w); Bumrah 9.4-0-52-2; Jadhav 5-0-29-3 (2w); Patel 10-0-49-0; Mishra 10-0-46-2.

INDIA:

R.G. Sharma lbw b Southee 13 A.M. Rahane c Santner b Henry 5 V. Kohli not out 154 M.S. Dhoni c Taylor b Henry 80 M.K. Pandey not out 28

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-7) 9

TOTAL (for three wkts, 48.2 overs) 289

FALL OF WKTS: 1-13, 2-41, 3-192.

DID NOT BAT: K.M. Jadhav, H.H. Pandya, A.R. Patel, A. Mishra, U.T. Yadav, J.J. Bumrah.

BOWLING: Henry 9.2-0-56-2 (1w); Boult 10-0-73-0 (2w); Southee 10-0-55-1 (2w); Santner 10-0-43-0; Neesham 9-0-60-0 (2w).

RESULT: India won by seven wickets to lead five-match series 2-1.

UMPIRES: C. Shamshuddin (India) and B.N.J. Oxenford (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: C.K. Nandan (India).

MATCH REFEREE: R.B. Richardson (West Indies).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Virat Kohli.

NEXT MATCH: Ranchi (D/N), Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...