Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
India did what they’ve done so often – bounce back from a first up defeat.
On the back of six straight ODI series wins, the Indians were not going to go down without a fight. There was no way back for New Zealand, after India put on a clinic with the ball to have the Black Caps in recovery mode for nearly the entire 50 overs.
New Zealand finished with 230/9, and it was never going to be enough. Led by Shikhar Dhawan, who was surprisingly Man of the Match (should have been Bhuvneshwar Kumar), India then made pretty light work of the run chase, winning with four overs and six wickets to spare.
Here are the statistics that I found interesting in India’s series-levelling win:
7
India’s fast bowlers took 7 wickets between them. Not since 2014 have India had fast bowlers take 6 or more wickets in an ODI at home.
Virat Kohli has instilled a focus in Indian cricket around the important role that seam bowlers play, even at home, and can hold them in good stead for the tour of South Africa a little further down the track.
8
New Zealand had 8 batsmen reach double figures, yet only managed 230/9 off 50 overs. Out of these 8, none managed to reach a half-century.
Henry Nicholls top scored for New Zealand, scoring 42. This came at a strike-rate of 67.74.
4.82
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s economy rate in 20 matches this year.
Out of the top 15 wickets takers in ODIs in 2017, Bhuvneshwar has the second-best economy rate for seamers, only behind Kagiso Rabada (4.80). Safe to say Kagiso Rabada has been helped out by playing a listless Bangladesh recently, enjoying an economy rate of just 4.30.
38 v 35
Tom Latham’s score vs. the combined score of Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.
New Zealand’s “quartet” failed to fire in this match, and was a big reason why they lost.
26.75
Kedar Yadhav’s bowling average after 18 innings, with an economy rate of just 5.04.
Seemingly innocuous, Yadhav makes it very difficult for batsmen to get him away, and was key in keeping Tom Latham quiet, especially on the sweep.
Pretty dominant win from India, and sets us up nicely for the decider on Sunday.
