IND vs NZ: Team India gave New Zealand a target of 386 runs

Indore (Best Hindu News): Captain Rohit Sharma (101) and Shubman Gill (112) scored unbeaten centuries after Hardik Pandya (54) scored a mammoth 386 against New Zealand in the third and final ODI on Tuesday. Kept a target

Rohit scored 101 runs off 85 balls with nine fours and six sixes, ending a drought of 1101 days in ODI cricket. Gill, who scored a double century two matches ago, continued his amazing form, scoring 112 runs in 78 balls, which included 13 fours and five sky-high sixes. After India suffered several setbacks in the middle overs, Pandya took control of the innings and scored 54 runs in 38 balls with three fours and three sixes.

New Zealand won the toss and called India to bat. Keeping in mind the need to score big on the small ground of Indore, the Rohit-Gil duo gave the team a suitable start. No Kiwi bowler could keep India’s opening pair calm except Loki Ferguson and the duo added a total of 82 runs in the first powerplay.

Gill reached his half-century in 33 balls after hitting a four in the 12th over, while Rohit touched the 50-run mark in the 14th over with a six. Even after the first powerplay, both the batsmen did not let the pace of the innings stop and made India’s biggest partnership in ODI cricket against New Zealand.

Rohit and Gill added 212 runs in 26 overs for the first wicket, though both returned to the pavilion after scoring hundreds. At one stage India were inching towards 400 but New Zealand kept the run rate in check by taking wickets in the middle overs.

Ishaan Kishan returned to the pavilion after being run out for just 17 runs, while Virat Kohli (36) was caught by Finn Allen standing on the covers. The wickets of Suryakumar Yadav and Washington Sundar slowed down the pace of the Indian innings but Pandya managed India by spending time on the wicket.

Shardul Thakur, supporting Pandya, scored 25 runs off 17 balls (three fours, one six) and the two shared a 54-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Although Pandya was dismissed in the 49th over, India scored 385 runs adding 60 runs in the last five overs.

Blair Tickner took three wickets for 76 runs in 10 overs. Jacob Duffy also took three wickets, although he went for 100 runs in his 10 overs. Michael Bracewell made a breakthrough conceding 51 runs in six overs. Ferguson proved to be the most economical Kiwi bowler, conceding 53 runs in 10 overs.