A valiant 54th ODI century from Virat Kohli ultimately proved insufficient as New Zealand scripted history in Indore, sealing their first-ever bilateral ODI series win on Indian soil with a commanding all-round display. Another masterful hundred from Daryl Mitchell, followed by Glenn Phillips’ second ODI ton, powered the visitors to a daunting total. Despite Kohli dragging the chase deep with support from Nitish Reddy and Harshit Rana, India fell short by 41 runs, reports Live Cricket Score.
India had New Zealand on the ropes early. A late leave from Henry Nicholls on the very first ball proved costly as an inside edge sent the ball crashing into the stumps. Just three deliveries later, Devon Conway edged Harshit Rana’s first ball straight to first slip, leaving New Zealand tottering at 5 for 2 inside seven balls. Once again, the responsibility fell on the in-form Mitchell to steady the innings. He, along with Will Young, ensured New Zealand recovered through the powerplay, finding the boundary almost every over to arrest any fears of a collapse.
Although Rana broke the stand by dismissing Young, New Zealand barely lost momentum. Mitchell soon found a willing partner in Glenn Phillips, and the duo began to take control. Phillips took his time initially, while Mitchell danced down the track to Kuldeep Yadav and launched his first ball for six, setting the tone.
Mitchell brought up another series fifty with ease, though New Zealand’s scoring rate hovered around five an over at the halfway stage. Phillips, then on 22 off 27, finally cut loose with a boundary off Mohammed Siraj, followed by a six off Arshdeep Singh. He then targeted Nitish Reddy for consecutive boundaries, pushing swiftly into the 40s.
As Mitchell began to punish Ravindra Jadeja, Phillips lifted his strike rate beyond 100. Mitchell’s ninth ODI century put New Zealand firmly on course for a massive finish, and what followed was a brutal assault. The pair toyed with India’s bowlers, dealing freely in fours and sixes, with Phillips reaching his hundred emphatically off just 83 balls.
Although Arshdeep and Siraj removed both centurions in successive overs, the damage had already been inflicted. India managed to pull things back slightly at the death, but Michael Bracewell’s unbeaten 28 ensured New Zealand closed strongly.
In reply, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started positively, striking five boundaries inside the first four overs. But New Zealand struck back swiftly in the powerplay. Rohit picked out mid-on, while Gill was undone by a beauty from Kyle Jamieson. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul failed to steady the ship, combining for just four runs as India slipped to 71 for 4.
At the other end, Kohli looked in sublime touch. A commanding pull for six early in his innings set the tone as he raced to 27 off 25 balls, despite wickets tumbling around him. With skipper Bracewell off the field due to a calf injury, New Zealand were momentarily stretched but remained confident with India’s top order dismantled.
Kohli, however, refused to give in. He stitched together a crucial stand with Nitish Reddy, who announced himself with authority by smashing two sixes en route to his maiden ODI fifty. Against the flow, Kristian Clarke broke the partnership by dismissing Nitish, while Jayden Lennox later removed Jadeja, leaving Kohli once again stranded.
Just when it seemed the end was near, Kohli found a new ally in Harshit Rana. The pair delighted the crowd with a flurry of boundaries, and Kohli brought up a fighting century as the equation narrowed to 108 from the final 10 overs. Rana then launched a stunning counterattack, hammering sixes and boundaries as India plundered 40 runs in just three overs to swing momentum back their way.
But a decisive over from Zakary Foulkes changed everything. He ended Rana’s charge and removed Siraj off the very next ball, leaving Kohli with too much to do alone. Though Kohli continued to battle and found a couple of boundaries, one mistimed shot was all it took to end his heroic effort—and with it, India’s hopes.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 337/8 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 137, Glenn Phillips 106; Arshdeep Singh 3/63)
beat
India 296 in 46 overs (Virat Kohli 124, Nitish Reddy 53; Kristian Clarke 3/54)
by 41 runs
