All-round India crush New Zealand to win series

Match Report: New Zealand v India, 3rd ODI, Mount Maunganui

Team India defeated New Zealand by 7 wickets in 3rd ODI at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in 5-match ODI series.

Rohit Sharma (62) and Virat Kohli (60) scored half-centuries as India chased down 244 runs with 7 overs remaining. This is India's second bilateral ODI series victory on New Zealand soil.

Earlier, New Zealand opted to bat first on a "used" surface which Kane Williamson thought will "help the spinners".

Martin Guptill (13) and Colin Munro (7), both openers, yet again failed to provide New Zealand a good start with both perishing within first 7 overs - edging behind to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami respectively. Both's wicket was an outcome of lack of footwork and some tight bowling.

Williamson (28) looked scratchy before he was caught at mid-wicket off Yuzvendra Chahal - Hardik Pandya, making a comeback after 5 games, dived across to his left to pluck a stunner.

Then, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham resisted Indian bowlers to stitch together a partnership of 119 runs for a 4th wicket. Taylor, who has second-best ODI average since 2015 World Cup, scored pleasing-to-eye 93 runs. His innings was characterized by late cuts and deft touches. Latham (51) exhibited his proficiency against spinners. He used both his feet as well as the depth of the crease to negate Indian spinners before holing out in pursuit of acceleration.

On either side of Taylor-Latham partnership, there were no substantial stands with New Zealand bundling out for 243 runs within 50 overs. This was the third time in a row that New Zealand was unable to bat the full quota of 50 overs. Shami claimed 3 wickets while Kumar, Chahal, and Pandya picked up 2 wickets apiece.

Shikhar Dhawan (28) provided India a quick start with a flurry of boundaries before edging out to first slip. Then, Sharma and Kohli put up a masterful stand of 113 runs to deny New Zealand any opening. Sharma's innings featured his trademark pull shot while Kohli motored along by running hard between the wickets.

When Kohli got out India still required 76 runs but Ambati Rayudu (40) and Dinesh Karthik (38), replacing injured MS Dhoni, ensured a clinical and a resounding Indian victory.