Cricket Update: India restrict http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 to a low total in 3rd ODI
MID Inns 224/9 in 50 overs
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 is on top after restricting the New Zealanders to a low total in the third match of the five match ODI series.
The tourists were on the back foot from the outset after having been put into bat by the hosts on a wicket that offered some movement early on to the new ball bowlers.
The Indian bowlers made great use of the conditions as they tore through the top order taking wickets at regular intervals in the first 20 overs.
The hosts rocked the Black Caps in the first over of the innings when Zaheer Khan had Brendon McCullum for a golden duck, the mainstay of the batting line-up edged the ball to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Murali-Vijay-c78035 placed in the second slip.
The Black Caps had more trouble coming their way as Martin Guptill was run out via a direct throw by the Indian captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gautam-Gambhir-c58623 positioned at mid-on.
Another body blow for the tourists was the departure of Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 who edged Zaheer Khan through to wicket-keeper Saha for 4 runs.
Kane Willamson was the next to go the youngster who had impressed in the test series scored 21 runs before falling lbw to Munaf Patel.
The Black Caps then lost their seasoned all-rounder Scott Styris for 22 runs as the scoreboard read a precarious 77/5.
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori found himself batting in an all too familiar crisis situation yet for once failed to do much falling for mere 3 runs.
Yousuf Pathan accounted for wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins; the right hander fell for 6 runs, as the 7th wicket was lost with the score at 106.
The New Zealanders who had lost the first two matches of the series comfortably were looking down and out at this stage of the innings.
They needed a substantial contribution from Nathan McCullum and James Franklin; the two did not disappoint their teammates as they added 94 runs for the 8th wicket stand.
McCullum was dismissed when he tried to up the scoring rate in the last few overs; he scored 43 off 53 balls before offering Gambhir a catch in the cover region.
Franklin was the mainstay for the Black Caps the all-rounder scored an unbeaten 72 studded with 5 fours and 1 six in his innings.
The Black Caps eventually posted a fighting total of 224/9 in the allotted 50 overs.
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