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India vs New Zealand, 4th ODI: Martin Guptill, Tim Southee help Kiwis level series 2-2

New Zealand beat India by 19 runs in the 4th ODI at Ranchi.

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MS Dhoni was cleaned with an absolute jaffa by James Neesham © AFP

Chasing changes the normal dynamics. It mounts an extra pressure on the batsmen. More often than not, a batsman is seen playing false shots. Indian batting line-up, on the other hand, does it with ease. These factors are not that big a deal for them. For that matter, they boast of top-class players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to name a few. Another addition is the staggering Manish Pandey, who guided India to a six-wicket win in a 300-run chase, in the Sydney ODI earlier this year. All this drama to articulate why chasing 261 is a cake walk for Dhoni’s men. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs New Zealand, 4th ODI at Ranchi

Before the start of the fourth ODI, India led the five-match series 2-1. One more win and the series was theirs. To make it more interesting, the match was scheduled at Dhoni’s home town – Ranchi. By all means, it was a special occasion for the people of Ranchi to see the local boy taking their nation to victory on their own soil. As a result, the crowd went bonkers when he stepped in for the toss. He did not call it right, though. However, he was asked to bowl first, something he did not mind, for he thought the dew factor would help the team batting second.

“We were looking to bowl first. Dew is the reason. If there is any chances of dew, we would like to bowl. The bowling has been fantastic. the wickets have been good to bat on. If I’m batting at 4, it gives me an opportunity to pick when I want to hit, rather than the last 10 overs. It gives me time for myself. One change, Jasprit Bumrah is not 100 per cent fit, so Dhawal Kulkarni comes in for him,” Dhoni said at the toss.

New Zealand switched on their attacking brand of cricket. Martin Guptill and Tom Latham took New Zealand to 80 for 0 after 10 overs. At the receiving end was the pacer Kulkarni. He gave away as many as 37 runs off his first 4 overs.

India were pushed onto the back foot, forcing Dhoni to introduce spinners early. All the same, it was a belter of track. It seemed the spinners would be taken for cleaners as well.

The wily duo of Akshar Patel and Amit Mishra battled against the odds and brought India back into the game, for they conceded only 14 runs in 5 overs. The pressure was now on the Black Caps. India sniffed a wicket. Meanwhile, Akshar continued bowling tight line and length. And to fall prey to it was the in-form Latham, as he top-edged Akshar’s tossed-up delivery to Ajinkya Rahane at short fine-leg, ending 96-run opening stand.

Guptill gradually scored his 18th half-century. With captain Kane Williamson, he added 42 runs for the second wicket, before Hardik Pandya got the better of him.

Be that as it may. The openers had already laid the foundation. All the middle order had to do was keep the scoreboard ticking. Williamson and Ross Taylor, for that matter, scored 41 and 35 respectively but neither of two could anchor the innings. And that led to major downfall. LIVE BLOG: India vs New Zealand, 4th ODI at Ranchi

From 161 for 2 off 30 overs, they were restricted to 260 for 7 off 50 overs.

Brilliant field setting and collectively bowling effort made sure India are back in the driver’s seat.

India chased down 285 in the previous contest with ease. Hence, scoring 261 was not that big a task. But they were up against a team that manages to play out of their skins even at crucial junctures.

Rohit Sharma stared off with two attractive boundaries. But, as fate may have, he was dismissed soon on 11. Now here’s an interesting fact. Rohit has been dismissed on 11, 13, 14 and 15 in this series, and 12 is the only number he did not address. Wait, here is another one. He, as a matter of fact, averages 12. There, he covered all the bases.

Rahane, at the other end, reached his first half-century of the series. Though he looked edgy at times but still managed to score 5 boundaries and a six.

Kohli, like always, exhibited lovely strokeplay. Another hundred was in the making, it seemed.

With these two class-apart batsmen in the thick of things, the match was in India’s favour.

New Zealand, on the other hand, needed wickets; Kohli’s wicket to be precise. But is it even humanly possible? Given the kind of outrageous form he is in, one can’t imagine Kohli getting dismissed.

Sodhi did what was asked of him. Yes, he got the better of the genius Kohli with a leg-cutter. In fact, Kohli got out in a similar way Williamson did. Let me remind you, when Kohli fails and Williamson rocks, New Zealand win. This time both got out in the 40s. At this point, it was anyone’s game.

Rahane soon joined Kohli in the dressing room. He was adjudged lbw.

The onus was on Dhoni, one of the finest finishers of all time. In addition, he was batting on his own territory. He struggled to find his feet. Yes, New Zealand’s bowling was absolutely top-drawer. For a change, Captain Cool was under pressure. A wicket was round the corner, New Zealand thought.

Meanwhile, Akshar Patel came at No. 5, ahead of Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav. That did not matter though, for James Neesham cleaned up Dhoni with an absolute jaffa.

Pandey had done it in the past, and Jadhav has enough experience in First-Class cricket.

Both were out on consecutive deliveries by Tim Southee. All of a sudden, India were reduced to 154 for 6 after 32.3 overs.

All-rounder Pandya failed to provide impetus as well.

Then came the surprising resurgence from Akshar and Amit Mishra. The duo added 38 runs for the eight wicket, giving India a ray of hope. Both batsman not only scored boundaries with grace but also ran furiously between the wicket; not that furious, for the partnership was broken by miscommunication. Mishra was run out on 14. He looked upset and perhaps gave a mouthful to Akshar.

India were 207 for 9, with India needing 53 off 45 balls. Tail-enders by reputation, they tried taking the team over the line but could add only 34 runs, losing the match by 19 runs; their first at Ranchi.

Brief scores

New Zealand 260 for 7 (Martin Guptill 72, Kane Williamson 41; Amit Mishra 2 for 41) beat India 241 (Ajinkya Rahane 57, Virat Kohli 45; Tim Southee 3 for 40) by 19 runs

Scorecard

(Kaustubh S. Mayekar, a reporter at CricketCountry, played cricket at U-16 level. Like his idol Rahul Dravid, he often shadow-practises cricket shots. His Twitter handle is @kaumedy_)

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