For the first time in last six months, Indian bowlers came under pressure due to counter attacking yet risk free batting by Tom Latham and Ross Taylor.
Chasing a competitive 281, New Zealand were off to a decent start with Colin Munro and Martin Guptill adding 48 runs for the first wicket before Hardik Pandya dismissed the former one. India then pulled things back by reducing the visitors to 80 for three.
However, India’s hopes of making further inroads into the game by Ross Taylor and Tom Latham got quashed. Taylor and Latham came together at 80 for 3 with India trying drive home the advantage but their 200-run stand for the fourth wicket proved to be a clincher in the end.
The Indian bowling attack didn’t have a plan B despite the wicket being not so conducive for batting.
The best part about the New Zealand run-chase was that they achieved the target without taking undue risks.
They did not try to attack spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav (1/64) and Yuzvendra Chahal (0/51) taking all the singles and doubles on offer with occasional boundary for the taking.
Taylor, who has been a regular feature in the IPL over the years faced 100 balls hitting eight boundaries while Latham – the only successful Kiwi batsman during their last tour, hit eight fours and two sixes in 102 deliveries scoring his fourth ODI hundred.
