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Sun, 23 October 2016
3rd ODI: Kohli's unbeaten century lifts India to victory

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21:36   Kohli's unbeaten century lifts India to victory

INDIA WIN By 7 WICKETS!

India 285-3 (48 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Virat Kohli finishes unbeaten on a magnificent 154 from 134 balls as India complete a comprehensive seven-wicket victory in Mohali to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Pandey played an important knock 28 from 34 balls, hitting the winning run as he pulls Henry for a four through midwicket.

The duo were involved in an unbroken stand of 97 runs from 75 balls for the fourth wicket to carry India to victory.

Kohli once again proved why he is one of the best batsmen in a run chase in ODIs, carrying his team through, with a controlled knock of 154, which was laced with 16 fours and a six in his 134-ball knock.
21:18   Kohli hits 150 as India close in on victory


India 285-3 (48 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Kohli looking to finish off things in a hurry. He steers a wide delivery from Boult past point for a four before hitting the next over midwicket for two runs.

The next ball is lofted over mid-off for another four as India speed up their victory charge.

He repeats that shot but this time it carries all the way for a straight six followed by two runs to bring up hi 150 from 133 balls.

The last ball is hit through point for another four as Boult goes for 22 runs in the over.

India are just a run away from victory.
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21:14   Kohli hits century, India need 23 from 3 overs for victory


India 263-3 (47 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Southee comes back as India take six singles from the over to take the score past the 250-run mark, in the 45th over.

Kohli gets a much-needed driving a full delivery through the covers for a four as seven runs come from the over.

The experienced Southee to finish off. Kohli plays another good drive through the covers for two runs followed by a single from the third ball.

Both players not taking any unnecessary risks but still managing to keep the runs coming at a good rate.

India are 263 for three in 47 overs, with another 23 needed from three overs for victory.
21:01   Kohli hits century to boost India's run chase


India 245-3 (44 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Boult bowling from round the wicket as Kohli opens the face of the bat and guides it past the short thirdman fielder for a four.

The left-arm pacer attempts the short ball as Pandey makes room and plays the ramp shot but gets just a single to thirdman.

Not much variety in the bowling from New Zealand as pacers operate from both ends.

Henry's ninth over fetches India six runs as Kohli twice pulls the pacer on the leg side for two runs each.

Kohli chips Boult over the off-side region as Anderson messes up on the boundary to give away a four. He turns the last ball perfectly in the gap through midwicket and comes back for a couple to get eight from the over.

India are 245 for three in 44 overs, needing another 41 runs from six overs for victory.
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20:46   Kohli hits century to keep India in the hunt


India 221-3 (41 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Following the dismissal, Santner sends down a good over with just a single to Kohli as new batsman Manish Pandey plays five dot balls in a row.

That sees the run rate jumping above the seven runs per over mark, with 93 runs needed from 13 overs for victory.

Pandey looks to get going as he smacks Henry over mid-off for a four, that will make him feel better.

Five more runs in the over helps India past the 200-run mark, in the 38th over.

Santner bowls another tidy over, conceding just two runs, to end his spell with good figures of 43 runs from 10 overs but importantly he went wicketless.

Kohli plays it uppishly over the point region but gets only two runs as the fielder does well on the thirdman fence.

However, the nice one is perfectly placed in the gap as Kohli flicks it behind square on the leg side for a four to take his score to 98.

He runs Southee to thirdman for a single to keep strike and also advance his score to 99.

Kohli completes his century with a single on the off-side from 104 balls off Neesham. This is Kohli's 26th century in ODIs and another important innings in a run chase, his 16th hundred batting second. He is fourth in the list of most century scorers in ODIs behind Tendulkar (49), Ponting (30) and Jayasuriya (28).

Pandey will look to take a few risks as he smashes Neesham back over his head for a four.

Pandey will try and keep the boundaries with Kohli looking to bat till the end and see the team through.

India are 221 for three in 41 overs, with 65 needed from nine overs for victory.
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20:27   Dhoni dismissed for 80, India lose 3rd wicket


India 192-3 (36 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Dhoni smashes a low full toss from Henry straight back over the bowler's head for a four to raise the 150-run stand for the third wicket from 165 balls.

But against the run of play, Dhoni loses his wicket as he is caught in the covers for 80.

A good bowling from Kane Williamson as Henry strikes in the first over of his new spell. It looked like the ball held up slightly as Dhoni mistimed his shot and ended up driving it straight to the fielder in the covers.

The Indian captain played a good innings, hitting six fours and three sixes in his 91-ball knock, putting on 151 runs for the third wicket with Kohli to lay the foundation.
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20:23   Dhoni, Kohli drive India forward in middle overs


India 187-2 (35 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

The singles are coming quite easily against the pacers with Dhoni and Kohli using the gaps to good effect and keep the runs coming with ones and twos.

Without even hitting a boundary, Dhoni and Kohli pick up six runs from the 31st over bowled by Southee.

The next over fetches nine runs as Kohli flicks a slower ball from Neesham over midwicket for a four.

This is good batting from the two right-handers, keeping the runs coming at a steady clip without taking too many risks.

He repeats the shot in the next over from Southee, this time using his wrists too effect to flick it over midwicket for a four to take his score into the 80s.

Santner comes back and it remains to be seen how he copes with the dew. Kohli and Dhoni have a huge misunderstanding but they recover in time as the former makes his crease in time.

Three runs from Santner's eighth over takes India's score to 187 for two in 35 overs, with another 99 needed from 15 overs for victory.

Kohli is looking good for his century, batting on 86, while Dhoni has made 76 from 87 balls.
19:56  


India 159-2 (30 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Boult comes back with New Zealand desperate to make a breakthrough. He bowls one short and Dhoni again pulls it through midwicket for a four coupled with five singles to make it nine runs from the over.

India have not let the scoring rate get out of hand as it has stayed just above the six runs per over. With wickets in hand, that should not be a problem if one of these two batsmen manage to stay till the end.

In Boult's next over, Kohli gets an edge as he looks to drive it through the off-side for a four.

India are looking good on 159 for two in 30 overs, with another 127 needed from 20 overs for victory.

Kohli is looking in control on 67 from 73 balls, and Dhoni has caught up with him on 68 from 76 balls with the partnership growing to 118 runs.
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19:43   Dhoni, Kohli hit 50s to rally India after early wickets


India 143-2 (27 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Dhoni completes his half-century from 59 balls with a single off Henry. This is his first fifty in a year after 10 innings as he breaks his run of poor scores and more importantly it has come under pressure in a big run chase.

India's two best batsmen have stood up to the challenge to steady their team after two early wickets.

Neesham comes back replacing Santner, who bowled seven overs for 37 runs and was hit for a couple of sixes by Dhoni.

But even Neesham suffers at the hands of Dhoni, who carts him back over his head for another six.

This is Dhoni's 196th six in ODIs, overtaking Tendulkar, who had 195 sixes to his credit.
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19:31  


India 130-2 (25 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Dhoni looking to be severe on Santner as he once again chips down and smashes it back over his head for another huge six.

New Zealand keep Santner going, hoping to finish him off as soon as possible to save him for more dew later on in the innings.

Henry replaces Southee, who has one for 23 in five overs. He tries a slower ball bouncer to Dhoni, who waits before pulling it square for a single and Kohli at the other end continues to rotate the strike.

After a couple of quiet overs, Dhoni smashes a short ball from Henry square on the off-side for a four to take his score to 47 from 54 balls.

Dhoni making the 12th and 13th men do a lot of work, asking for the helmet against the pacers and immediately giving it back for the next over against spinner Santner.

At the halfway stage, India are 130 for two, with another 156 runs needed from 25 overs for victory.

Kohli has looked in control from the start to score 58 from 62 balls, while Dhoni is batting on 49 from 57 balls.
19:14   Kohli hits half-century to put India in control


India 103-2 (20 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

This is Dhoni at his aggressive best. He smashes Neesham over the mid-off fielder for a four and punches the last ball of the over through the covers for two runs.

In the next over, the India captain powerfully smacks Santner back over his head for a mighty six to bring up his 9000 runs in ODIs from 281 matches at an impressive average of 51. What a player!

In the previous match, Dhoni struggled to 39 from 65 balls and here he is keen to make up for it, having already made 26 from 32 balls.

Kohli also joins in the party as he cuts a short ball from Neesham through point for a four to take his score into the 40s.

Dhoni pulls the next ball through midwicket for a four to raise the 50-run stand from just 53 balls.

India's two most experienced batsmen are turning it on. With the dew increasing steadily and two set batsmen batting nicely, India have a slight upperhand at the moment.

Kohli flicks Southee fine for a four to race to his fifty from 49 balls, to take India to 103 for two in 20 overs, needing another 183 runs from 30 overs for victory.
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18:55   Kohli, Dhoni steady India after early wickets


India 67-2 (15 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Dhoni will look to bat long and build a partnership with Kohli with some inexperienced batsmen to follow.

He pulls the last ball from Boult to deep square leg for a single as India reach 45 for two in 10 overs, needing another 241 run for victory from 40 overs at six runs per over.

Dhoni is eager to make a statement as he comes down the track and smashes a short ball from Southee through midwicket for a four.

Southee bowls another short ball as Dhoni pulls again and nearly holes out to the fine leg fielder but it falls just short.

Henry comes back from the other end, replacing Boult, who are bowled a tidy spell of 19 runs from five overs.

Dhoni is looking good as he hits one through the covers for two runs, the timing is good on that shot and he looks in control. Unlike in the previous match, Dhoni is looking to be busy and get on with the scoring.

Spin is introduced in the 13th over as left-armer Mitchell Santner comes into the attack.

He gives away four singles in his first over with Dhoni and Kohli both busy looking for every opportunity to score a run with quick running between the wickets.

Another bowling change as medium pacer Jimmy Neesham comes into the attack. He manages to bowl three dot balls in a row who then picks a single and Kohli picks one too.

Kohli gets the boundary as he hits a wide delivery from Santner behind point for a four to take India to 67 for two in 15 overs, needing 219 runs from 35 overs for victory.
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18:25   Rohit dismissed for 13, India in trouble


India 42-2 (9 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Tim Southee comes into the attack as Henry is taken off after bowling just three overs, despite taking an early wicket and having Kohli dropped in his previous over.

Southee makes a tidy start, giving away just four runs in his first over.

Boult bowls it on the pads to Kohli, who flicks it square on the leg side for a four. Two balls later, he pulls a short ball through midwicket for another boundary followed by a single as India look to get their innings back on track after the early wicket.

Southee leaves in India in trouble with the wicket of Rohit, who is trapped leg before wicket for 13. The slower ball does the track as Rohit is beaten by the off-cutter as he looks to turn it on the leg side and is hit on the pads to leave India in trouble at 41 for two in the ninth over.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni walks in at No. 4 eager to prove his critics wrong after a poor knock in the last match.

He pulls a short ball powerfully but gets only a single to fine leg.
18:12  


India 27-1 (6 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

The onus will be on Virat Kohli to play a big innings and build a partnership with Rohit to lay the foundation. Kohli is a master of run chases and he will need to bring all his experience into play against a good New Zealand bowling attack with a lot of variety.

Kohli plays a beautiful drive through the covers to open his boundary count. And Henry nearly gets the big scalp of Kohli but Taylor at wide slip puts down the simplest of chances. Kohli (6) looks to run it down to thirdman but ends up hitting it straight into the hands of Taylor, like they do in practice, but the veteran Kiwi fails to hold on. How costly will that drop catch prove?

Boult is again bowling to a good plan, keeping it tight to build up the pressure from his end as India reach 27 for one in six overs.
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18:00   Rahane out for 5, India lose early wicket


India 13-1 (3 ovs) vs NZ 285 | Scorecard

Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane are the two opening batsmen for India, who need to give their team a good platform as they set about chasing a competitive 286 for victory.

Rohit gets India off to a perfect start, with two fours off Henry in the first over, hitting it through the covers and midwicket respectively.

Trent Boult comes up with a good first over, conceding just a single as Rahane runs the fifth ball of the over to thirdman.

In the next over, Rahane hits Henry over midwicket for a four. But the bowler gets revenge from the very next delivery as Rahane (5) chips it straight to Santner in the covers. He played away from his body and looked to drive on the up but failed to keep it down to lose his wicket cheaply.
17:09   New Zealand recover to post 285 in Mohali


NZ 285-all out (49.4 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

New Zealand did well to recover from 199 for eight in the 38th over to finish on a healthy 285 after being put into bat, scoring 74 runs from the last 10 overs.

Neesham was instrumental in New Zealand's superb comeback as he hit a quickfire 57 from 47 balls, adding 84 runs for the ninth wicket with Matt Henry, who finished unbeaten on a vital knock of 39 from 37 balls.

Latham continued his good form in India with another fifty, scoring 61 from 72 balls.

Jadhav was India's best bowler, claiming three for 29, while Yadav also picked up three wickets but ended up giving away 75 runs in 10 overs.

Mishra bowled beautifully in the middle overs to claim two for 46 in 10 overs, and Bumrah took two for 52.
17:06   New Zealand recover to post 285 in Mohali


NZ 285-all out (49.4 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Bumrah to bowl the final over. Trent Boult tries to take a single on the leg side but can't beat the fielder as he looks to bring Henry back on strike.

He inside edges the next ball and Henry races across for one to take back the strike but he can also pick up a single.

Boult is beaten all ends up as Bumrah bowls him with a slower ball as New Zealand finish on a healthy 285 in 49.4 overs.
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17:01   Neesham dismissed for 57, NZ lose 9th wicket


NZ 283-9 (49 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Neesham in total control now as he hits a full delivery from Bumrah behind point for a four to keep the runs coming.

Henry also doing well to keep the scoreboard going, giving the strike to Neesham, while also picking up runs at a good rate.

In the 49th over he swings Yadav over midwicket for a six before drilling the next ball through the same region for a four.

Yadav misses the length again as Henry this time despatches the length ball over the covers for a four to race to 37 from 35 balls.

Yadav bowls a full toss which is hit high on the off-side by Neesham as Jadhav completes an easy. Neesham walks back after a splendid innings of 57 from 47 balls which has been instrumental in New Zealand's superb fightback, adding 84 runs from 67 balls for the ninth wicket.

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16:52   Neesham hits fifty to lift NZ after collapse


NZ 259-8 (47 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Axar comes back as Neesham turns the second ball on the leg side for two runs before sweeping the next square for a four. He cuts the next ball for a couple and repeats the shot again for two more runs as NZ recover slightly.

Neesham is playing with a good innings with the bat, scoring 39 from 37 balls to score some useful runs with the bat and take them past the 250-run mark.

Yadav drops short as Neesham pulls it over midwicket for a four before taking two runs wide of long-off.

He edges the last ball of the over for a four through thirdman region to bring up his maiden fifty from 44 balls.
16:38  


NZ 233-8 (44 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Mishra, who has two overs in hand, comes back. He sends down another good over conceding just two runs as New Zealand are keen to last the 50 overs and score as much as they can.

Henry plays another good shot through the off-side off Yadav for his second boundary as seven come from the over.

Neesham attempts to reverse sweep Mishra but fails to beat the fielder inside the circle before the left-hander turns the ball on the leg side for two runs.

He drives the fifth ball through midwicket for a four, finding the gap to perfection between two of India's best fielders Kohli and Pandey. Infact, Kohli was unhappy with Pandey's half-hearted effort as he ran across from deep midwicket but didn't put in the dive.
16:21   Southee bowled for 13, NZ lose 8th wicket


NZ 211-8 (40 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Mishra has bowled a wonderful spell today and Dhoni back him by putting a fielder at slip and short leg as he bowls against new man Southee.

Bumrah bowls a good yorker which Southee blocks on the off-side for a single as Neesham makes his ground despite a direct hit.

Umesh Yadav comes back into the attack. And he leaves New Zealand in further strife as Southee inside edges it back on to his stumps to be bowled for 13.

Southee looked to pull a wide delivery from the outside the off-stump across the line on the leg side but ended up getting the inside half of the bat and back on to the stumps.

In the next over, Neesham plays another good straight drive for a four to take New Zealand past the 200-run mark, in the 39th over.

Yadav bowls it short and wide as Henry smashes it through the point region for a four as NZ reach 211 for eight in 40 overs.
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16:04   Santner dismissed for 7, NZ lose 7th wicket


NZ 190-7 (35 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Dhoni going for the kill as he brings back Bumrah. Mitchell Santner is late on the shot as he looks to drive a full delivery, going away from him and is beaten.

Jimmy Neesham punches a full delivery straight down the ground past the bowler for a four.

However, the pacer strikes in his next over with the wicket of Santner, who gets a leading edge and is caught on the off-side for seven.

Tim Southee gets off the mark with two runs through point before he hits Bumrah for successive boundaries through the off-side as NZ reach 190 for seven in 35 overs.
15:46  


NZ 170-6 (32 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Jadhav continues his wicket ways. This time he gets the key wicket of Latham, who hits it straight into the hands of Pandya in the covers to fall after a good innings of 61 from 72 balls.

Jadhav, who hardly bowls even in first class cricket, has left New Zealand in trouble with superb figures of three for 24 in four overs.

From being well placed at 153 for two at one stage, they have been reduced to 170 for six in 32 overs, losing four wickets for 18 runs in the space of 21 deliveries.
15:41   Mishra and Jadhav trigger NZ collapse


NZ 166-5 (31 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Mishra bowls another beauty. This time, Luke Ronchi is beaten all ends up, as he is dragged forward by a full delivery which spins big and Dhoni whips off the bails in a flash.

Ronchi falls for one as NZ suffer a mini collapse, losing three quick wickets in the space of 12 deliveries.

Dhoni took no time to collect the ball and break the stumps as Ronchi's feet were dragged out of the crease as he looked to drive it.
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15:34   Jadhav strikes again, Anderson out for 6


NZ 161-4 (30 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Jadhav does the trick again with the ball, this time with the wicket of the dangerous Corey Anderson, who hits a full toss straight to mid-off.

Anderson came out with an attacking intent, as he smashed Jadhav, who came back for a second spell, over mid-off for a four.

However, he fell off the very next delivery as he mistimed a full toss and Rahane took an easy catch at mid-off to dent New Zealand further.

Two wickets in eights balls as NZ are reduced to 161 for four in 30 overs with Latham on 56 from 68 balls.
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15:31   Taylor dismissed for 44, NZ lose 3rd wicket


NZ 154-3 (29 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Having got his eye in, Taylor is feeling confident to take on the bowlers. This time he slog sweeps Axar over midwicket for a six to bring up NZ's 150, in the 27th over.

However, Taylor can't carry and is dismissed by a beautiful delivery from Mishra after scoring 44 from 57 balls.

That was flighted and drifted in slightly as Taylor tried to drive it long-on but was beaten as it spun sharply and Dhoni completed an easy stumping.
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15:22   Latham hits half-century as NZ make good progress


NZ 137-2 (26 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Taylor finally gets the cut shot right as he goes back and hits Patel behind point for a four, that would make him feel good after a slow and shaky start.

The two spinners, Mishra and Patel, have dried up the boundaries but Taylor and Latham are content to takes the ones and twos and build the partnership in the middle overs.

Dhoni looks for a breakthrough as he brings back pacer Pandya. The first ball is short and wide and Taylor cuts it through point for a four before he plays another unconvincing pull shot for one.

Latham continues his consistent run as a single gives him his half-century from 58 balls.

A couple of balls later, Taylor hammers Axar through the covers for a four as he continues to grow in confidence on a good batting wicket.
14:56  


NZ 105-2 (20 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

It will be spin from both ends as left-armer Axar Patel is called into the attack. He makes a good start, giving away four runs in his first over.

Surprisingly, Jadhav is taken off after that wicket taking over as he makes way for leg-spinner Amit Mishra.

Mishra and Axar looking to keep it tight by drying up the flow of runs, however, the former drops short on the odd occasion as Taylor rocks back and pulls it over miwicket for a four.

Taylor is once again struggling to get going in the middle overs, having made just 10 from 22 balls.

He is quite undecided on how to play against the spinners, as he steps out to Axar and then goes back to cut but only gets an inside edge.

Latham is comfortable at the other end as he sweeps confidently for one before Taylor turns it on the leg side for two runs.

New Zealand have slowed down considerably, scoring just 17 runs from the last five to reach 105 for two in 20 overs.
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14:31   Jadhav dismisses Williamson, NZ lose 2nd wicket


NZ 80-2 (13 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Part-timer Kedar Jadhav is the preferred spinner for Dhoni first up and New Zealand easily collect six runs from his first over.

He had a confident shout for LBW turned down against Williamson but that was more in hope with the ball clearly looking to miss the leg stump by a big margin.

Latham sweeps Jadhav through square leg for a four, not wanting the part-time spinner to settle down.

But the off-spinner strikes a vital blow with the wicket of Williamson. He bowls it slightly slower as Williamson goes for the sweep but is early into the shot and is beaten to be trapped leg before wicket for 22 as Jadhav continues his wicket ways.
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14:20   Guptill out for 27 but NZ off to a good start


NZ 64-1 (10 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Jasprit Bumrah comes into the attack. Williamson goes back and punches the second ball through the covers for two runs, a shot which delights commentator Sunil Gavaskar, who says its the perfect cover drive off the backfoot.

Williamson keeps strike with a single from the last ball as four runs come from the over.

Yadav manages to keep Williamson tight with four dot balls before the Kiwi captain is gifted a four as Amit Mishra misfields on the thirdman fence before he takes one from the last ball.

Williamson plays another delightful shot through the covers, making most of some width from Bumrah.

He edges the next ball which falls short of a diving Dhoni to his right but he does well to stop it on the bounce.

New Zealand are off to a good start, racing to 64 for one in 10 overs with Latham on 18 from 22 balls and Williamson from 17 from as many balls.
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14:05   Guptill out for 27, NZ lose 1st wicket


NZ 50-1 (7 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Guptill looking to go after the inexperienced Pandya as he powerfully slaps it through the off-side for a four.

The pacer tries a short ball which Guptill pulls to square leg for two runs before he makes room and lofts the last ball over the off-side for a six to race to 27 from 20 balls.

Latham joins the party as he pulls a short ball from Yadav over square leg fence for his first six.

A full delivery which comes in sharply as Guptill is caught in the crease and caught plumb in front of the stumps to be dismissed for a quick 27 from 21 balls.

Kane Williamson gets off the mark in some style, driving the last ball straight down the ground for a four.
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13:57   New Zealand off to a good start in Mohali


NZ 26-0 (5 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Slight width from Yadav as Guptill drives it square on the off-side for the first boundary of the New Zealand innings. He makes room and looks to flay it through the off-side but ends up defending it on the leg side for one.

Guptill making a statement early on as he comes down the track and lofts Pandya high over long-on for a huge six.

In the next over, Latham edges a slower ball from Pandya which moves as the left-hander looks to slash it square on the off-side but gets a four as it past the lone slip fielder.

He edges the next ball which falls just short of Rahane in the slips before Latham turns the fifth ball through midwicket for two runs.

NZ are off to a good start as they reach 26 for no loss in five overs.
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13:42  


NZ 5-0 (2 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Martin Guptill wiill be desperate to get off the mark, having been bowled in the first over by Umesh Yadav in the previous match in Delhi.

He plays a loose shot, a half-hearted drive away from his body as the ball falls just short of the fielder at mid-off for just a single.

Tom Latham also makes a shaky start, getting an inside edge to fine leg for one off the last ball of the over.

Hardik Pandya bowls a wide before the left-hander gets a thick outside edge which goes uppishly on the bounce to thirdman for one. Guptill again mishits it to thirdman, trying to leave the ball but gets some bat and gets a single.
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13:05   Unchanged India elect to bowl vs New Zealand in Mohali
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won the toss and elected to bowl against New Zealand in the third One-Day International.

Despite losing the second ODI in Delhi by six runs, India have opted to retain the same combination which means Suresh Raina sits out despite having recovered his fitness after suffering from a viral illness which forced him to miss the first two games.

It is a big confidence booster for Kedar Jadhav, who scored a fluent 41 in Delhi, while taking wickets in the first two games.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who losing run with the toss continues, made one change to their team with all-rounder Jimmy Neesham replacing Anton Devcich.
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12:54   Focus on Dhoni as India look to bounce back in Mohali

Welcome to the coverage of the third One-Day International between New Zealand and India at PCA Stadium in Mohali, on Sunday.

Stung by an improved New Zealand the other night, a wary India would like to quickly get their house in order when they square off with Kane Williamson's boys in the third ODI of the five-match series.

While the six-run defeat in Delhi has given India plenty to ponder about, it has also renewed interest in the contest which had been dominated by the home team prior to Thursday, stretching from the one-sided Test series to the first ODI in Dharamsala.

From the New Zealand point of view, a victory was all that they needed after a string of deflating defeats. As a result of their first win on Indian soil in 13 years, one can expect a certain spring in the stride of the visitors when they take the field at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.

India, on the other hand, can only blame themselves for suffering a rude shock after failing to chase down a 243-run target, a total they were expected to overhaul with little difficulty.

As captain MS Dhoni put it, the hosts would have won the game had some of their batsmen had made an extra 10-15 runs instead of getting out at crucial junctures.

With most batsmen not showing the required maturity to bail the team out of a tricky situation, it would be a tad unfair to only point fingers at Dhoni, who was made to work hard for his 39 before falling to a brilliant return catch by Tim Southee.

The Indian skipper, who is clearly past his prime but his countless fans would be hoping for another 'Dhoni' special in the games to come, considering the team plays only a few limited overs matches during this home season.

Interestingly, in the last ODI played in Mohali three years ago, Dhoni had smashed an unbeaten 139, albeit in a losing cause against Australia. He is yet to score an international hundred since then.

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