New Delhi: India suffered another batting collapse as New Zealand bowled out the visitors for a modest 209 in the fifth and final ODI of the series on Sunday.
India lead the series 2-1, but New Zealand’s disciplined bowling has put the hosts in a strong position to level the series.
After being dismissed for just 89 in the fourth ODI at the same venue a few days ago, Shreyas Iyer’s side were expected to put up a better performance. However, India once again struggled with the bat.
A solid opening partnership was crucial for India, but Matt Fisher dismissed Rohit Sharma early to derail those hopes. Rohit’s poor form in the series continued as he played a loose shot off Fisher, which was caught by Dean Foxcroft at short midwicket.
Virat Kohli soon followed him back to the pavilion. He was unlucky to see his cut shot off an outside delivery from Fisher brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Tim Seifert, who leapt to complete the catch.
Ruturaj Gaikwad also failed to stay for long. Attempting to drive Jacob Duffy, he was beaten by an inward-moving delivery that took the inside edge and went through to Seifert.
India were reduced to 34 for three and could have been 34 for four had Foxcroft held on to a chance offered by Axar Patel off Duffy at cover.
Shreyas and Axar, who scored 46, added 52 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the innings. However, Blair Tickner broke the partnership, dismissing Shreyas once again with a short-pitched delivery.
Michael Bracewell soon ended Axar’s innings. The left-hander attempted to pull the off-spinner but hit the ball straight to Will Young inside the boundary.
Ishan Kishan (46) and Naman Dhir (22) tried to revive India’s innings with a 39-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Kishan had earlier struck two sixes in an over from Jacob Duffy.
However, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, who returned figures of 3 for 47, intervened by dismissing Dhir and exposing India’s lower order. Kishan eventually fell to Duffy while trying to accelerate the scoring.
India were in danger of being bowled out before reaching 200, but some powerful shots from Arshdeep Singh (14) and an unbeaten 14 from Mohammed Siraj helped the visitors cross the 200-run mark.
On a pitch that has been largely favourable for batting, India will be deeply disappointed with their batters’ performance.
