Ind NZ ODI 3: Gambhir Scores Ton on Trot, As New Zealand lose Series by 3-0

Team India had an interesting day in the field. And the fans would suggest otherwise even as the hosts gained an unassailable 3-0 lead in the India New Zealand series.

gautam gambhir relieved

If Gautam Gambhir was elated to win the first ODI of the series as captain, he would be enthralled by the result of ODI 3 as he himself scored back to back ODI centuries as India gained a decisive lead in the series with New Zealand having only pride and practice to gain from the next two games.

The Indian bowling saw the inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja while Saurabh Tiwary is yet to get a game in the series. However, there was no overall impact either way on team India. Zaheer Khan enjoyed his comeback by ruining the comeback of Brendon McCullum. An unfortunate run out of Martin Guptill epitomized the cluelessness about matters in the despondent New Zealand camp. Ross Taylor's early departure and there was more trouble for New Zealand at four down for forty-nine.

Scott Styris would not bail New Zealand out. Ravichandran Ashwin made sure of that. New Zealand never seemed to gain a foothold of matters in the do or die encounter at Baroda. If New Zealand did stretch their innings total to 224, it was because of the belated partnership between James Franklin, drafted in for Jesse Ryder, and Nathan McCullum.

Franklin's seventy-two seemed a complete antithesis of New Zealand's efforts or lack of it. Yet it was the silver lining to the inept manner in which New Zealand have approached this series. That they have not even been able to dent team India's confidence even marginally despite the absence of several frontline Indian cricketers is then a reflection of how deep a hole New Zealand are stuck in at the moment.

Nathan's forty-three runs in a ninety-three run partnership for the eighth wicket meant that India would get a workout, longer than they originally thought. But clearly with the stand in Indian captain, Gautam Gambhir, in the form that he is in, India had little problems overhauling it. Two successive century partnership stands ensured that. Virat Kohli was also making himself indelible with a half century but it was hard to miss Gambhir on the finishing touch as India won with ten overs and three balls to spare.