Mount Maunganui, November 15 (Yes Punjab News)
Jacob Duffy and New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner claimed three wickets each as the hosts bowled India out for 209 in 42.1 overs in the fifth and final ODI at Bay Oval on Sunday. India once again struggled with the bat, failing to register a single half-century.
Santner finished with figures of 3-47 through his variations in pace, while Duffy took 3-60. Matthew Fisher claimed two wickets, while Blair Tickner and Michael Bracewell, playing his 50th ODI, picked up one each.
India made a sedate start, scoring 20 runs in the first three overs, but Fisher struck in the sixth over when Rohit Sharma flicked a length delivery straight to mid-wicket for seven. Rohit endured a disappointing series, scoring just 30 runs, including two ducks. Fisher then dismissed Virat Kohli for five, with Tim Seifert taking the catch behind the wicket.
Duffy accounted for Ruturaj Gaikwad, who edged a wobble-seam delivery to Seifert for 18. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel attempted to steady the innings with a 52-run partnership, benefiting from dropped catches by Foxcroft and Finn Allen. Tickner eventually dismissed Iyer for 22, while Bracewell removed Axar, who scored 46 off 55 balls, leaving India at 121/5 after 25 overs.
Santner then broke another partnership by having Naman Dhir caught at deep cover for 22. Dhir had added 39 runs with Ishan Kishan. Auqib Nabi was caught at cover, while debutant Yash Thakur was dismissed for a duck after edging to Seifert.
Kishan kept India in the contest with two sixes off Duffy in the 39th over, but the pacer dismissed him in the 41st over when he top-edged a short delivery to third man. Kishan made 46 off 58 balls.
Arshdeep Singh struck two sixes off Duffy, while Mohammed Siraj hit Santner for a maximum to take India past 200. However, Duffy ended the innings by bowling Arshdeep for 14 with a slower delivery.
New Zealand will now need 210 runs to win and level the series 2-2.
Brief Scores: India 209 all out in 42.1 overs (Axar Patel 46, Ishan Kishan 46; Mitchell Santner 3-47, Jacob Duffy 3-60).
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