Another Chase, another Century and another India win, as Kohli leads India along side with Dhoni in a crucial 152 run partnership for the 3rd wicket at Mohali on Sunday to take the lead 2-1 in the 5 match series. Chasing a target of 286 India were in early trouble as Rahane once again failed to get some runs under his belt batting at the top, where he looked to play a drive over covers but held in two minds at the last moment.
Kohli who walked at No.3 has been busy running the ball towards third man in the early part of Innings, While Taylor dropped Kohli when he is on 6 and it indeed proved to more expensive to bear for the Kiwis later in the innings.On the other hand Rohit struggled to rotate strike and looked tentative and it was in the 9 th over Rohit missed all ends up by surprise slower delivery from Southee when the ball was quite hard, Where Rohit had no clue and he was plumb to raise to raise the finger.
At this stage India are 41/2 and suddenly the target seemed too big than it was, with the side in trouble the Captain cool walked in at No.4 ahead of Pandey not only to guide the team from trouble but also to play freely where he is more dangerous at. Dhoni seemed determined from the outset and played aggressive cricket, Kohli at the other end chipped in with singles to rotate the strike and Dhoni too joined him in picking up singles where he wasn't good at in early of an innings.
But that intent helped India and the scorecard flowed fluently as this pair started coming into their zones more, while the Kiwis once again tested Dhoni with the short ball theory and Dhoni was not in any hurry to loop the ball the air as, the UnOrthodox batsman showed his own technique to keep them out. Kohli was the aggressor early in the partnership and then Dhoni took it over, and in the process both passed their fifty at a brisk pace not allowing the run rate to creep up either.
Kiwis struggled to break the partnership until the 36th over when Dhoni chipped one to Taylor at covers and the road was well laid to the chase at the time as Dhoni scored 81 of their 152 run stand for the 3rd wicket. Then it was all Kohli who anchored the chase alongside Pandey and the young man too played aggressive shots to make it more easy for the run machine, as Kohli turned another gear he reached his 26 th hundred of his Career and then it was all too easy as he made sure to score a boundary of each over, in the end he ensured the chase not to go too long and attacked in the 48th over pinching 22 runs, and also crossed 150 run mark as he lead home.
Earlier Kiwis lost the toss fifth time in a row and gone with one change making in room for Nesham. For the first time in the ODI series Guptill survived first 2 overs and attacked Pandya more with his own aggressive style, and seemed to take on the bowlers but he wasn't lasted long as he was removed by Umesh by an inswinger. Later Williamson who walked into the crease played quite freely alongside accomplished Latham, and started to score boundaries more freely against pacers.
While Dhoni brought on his golden man to break a partnership that hurted India in the previous game and the pair attacked Jadhav in his first over, in the later over of Jadhav Williamson was early on the sweep to a tossed up delivery and was plump in front as Jadhav striked once again with his golden arm. Although with two right handers in at the crease Jadhav was taken out of the attack, while Latham sweeped the spinners so as he did in this tour all along to keep the scorecard ticking.
But Taylor at the other end struggled to rotate strike against spinners, although he stayed long at the crease and looked to carry on with more time Taylor played good shorts. While Latham moved into his fifties once again and things got better for Kiwis as the pair laid 73 run stand for the 3rd wicket only then Taylor who was looking good outfoxed by Mishra with beautifully frightened in-dipping leg spinner.
At this stage Kiwis where 153/2 in 28.2 overs and there came another collapse of the series, as they lost 4 wickets in spare of 16 runs and 4 overs. As Jadhav picked Anderson and set Latham, and Ronchi got out to a splendid work from Dhoni behind the stumps. While Santner and Southee too doesn't stayed at the crease for a long time and Kiwis were 199/8 in the 39th over
Much disappointed to their collapse their came late resilience from Jane's Nesham and Matt Henry, as Nesham came into his own with some purpose he made an much needed half century and also laid a 84 run partnership for the 9 th wicket. Eventually Kiwis got on to a total that they would feel better after their collapse through middle overs, as they made 285 of 49.4 overs.
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