New Delhi (India) November 15: India successfully defended a low total of 209 to beat New Zealand by 22 runs in the fifth ODI. This results in India taking the ODI series by 3-1 after winning the T20I series by 3-2.
India Defend Low Total Of 209
India suffered a top-order mini collapse before important knocks of 46 each from Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan. They took the total to a competitive mark before they got all out in 42.1 overs. In response, the New Zealand team found it hard to score enough runs against the Indian bowling attack.
Arshdeep Singh led the attack with a wonderful spell of 3/30, while Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel took two wickets each, as New Zealand, managed to get to only 187 runs before getting all out in 48.1 overs.
Shreyas Iyer Celebrates Series Win
Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer says it is exciting to win a series in New Zealand in the T20Is earlier and now ODIs.
Iyer said, "Ecstatic. Both the T20Is and ODIs had different conditions. We didn't have a great batting but our bowlers all bowled with the same direction and we were able to execute. This whole series was not a good one for batters but the mindset is to take the team through irrespective of the conditions. Chopping and changing can be tricky for the team. The fans came and supported both teams which is heartening to see. Sport is growing to a different level - thanks a lot to all the folks.”
Santner Credits India's Bowling Effort
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said his hand is still holding up pretty well, for now, he'll have to check again tomorrow. But he gives India full credit for the bowling effort, saying how they rotated the seamers well and left a couple of their options to the end, and that they could have won had they been able to push the partnerships just that bit longer.
Mitchell said, "Hand is fine so far. Need to see tomorrow. Was happy at the halfway stage. It was obviously slow. We were happy to take wickets throughout. [Batting] India bowled really well tonight. Shreyas did a great job rotating his seamers and holding Axar back. If we took each partnership a little longer, we would've won the game. It was a great bowling performance from India. It was a bit-two paced, the wicket. It was closer than the scoreline suggests. There was rain around, we lost many tosses, but I think different guys came in. Some guys stepped up as well.”
Playing XI: India and New Zealand
India: Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer(c), Ishan Kishan(w), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur.
New Zealand: Will Young, Tim Seifert(w), Nick Kelly, Dean Foxcroft, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Kristian Clarke, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher.