Auckland thriller ends in a tie

India

India avoided a series defeat in Auckland on Saturday when they tied the third ODI against New Zealand, scoring the 314 the Black Caps had also made, to keep the scoreline at two-nil.

India avoided a series defeat in Auckland on Saturday when they tied the third ODI against New Zealand, scoring the 314 the Black Caps had also made, to keep the scoreline at two-nil.

New Zealand fast bowler Corey Anderson took a maiden five-fer, and Martin Guptill scored a ton, but the Black Caps were unable to prevent India's Ravi Jadeja from stealing their victory with a fine 66 not out at the death.

India needed 18 runs off the final over, with one wicket in hand, and it was all down to Jadeja. He struck a six off Anderson, as well as two fours, while the paceman helped with two wides. India needed two off the last, but a single it was.

The visitors won the toss and chose to field first, and got off to a good start when Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Jesse Ryder for 20. But the stand between Guptill and Kane Williamson provided the backbone of the innings.

The pair put on 153 runs over the next 28-odd overs, with Williamson adding his second half ton of the series. He was out for 65, bowled by Mohammed Shami, and that was really the final big stand of the knock.

Aside from Guptill's ton, which came to an end on 111 thanks to Jadeja's bowling, the only other score of not was Luke Ronchi's 38. But the Kiwis had done enough to post what they would have considered a winning score.

India got off to a very fast start in their chase, with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma reaching the 60s in less than 10 overs. Anderson then broke that party up, removing first Dhawan for 28 and Rohit for 39.

Virat Kohli was not long for the middle, making just six before being caught behind off Hamish Bennett, and then Ajinkya Rahane was back in the hut for three, also caught by Ronchi but this time off Anderson.

This left India in the mire, and the Black Caps would have been confident of a series win as the visitors sat on 79 for four. But then the middle order once again came to the rescue, with Suresh Raina (31) and MS Dhoni (50) steadying the ship.

Once those two departed, the spin pairing of Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin put on 85 in nine overs, with Ashwin making a half century before falling to Nathan McCullum for 65 off 46 balls.

Jadeja then watched as his remaining partners left him in the lurch, Anderson bagging a maiden five-fer in the process, but Aaron Varun stick with him at the end. Jadeja hit five fours and four sixes, and turned down a few singles, to see his side to the tie.

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