India won the 3rd ODI at Mohali by 7 wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the 5 match ODI series. This puts pressure on New Zealand as they have to win both the remaining 2 ODIs to clinch the series. Even though India still have some areas to work on, it was a clinical performance by them with the bat. The only criticism that could be levelled against them (India) was that they let the New Zealand tail wag and post a score that seemed unreachable after they lost 8 wickets with less than 200 on the board. This win will boost the morale in the Indian dressing room and give them much needed confidence for the remaining 2 ODIs. Here is the complete match report.

The New Zealand openers realised that the wicket was a much better one to bat on then the previous ones at Dharamsala and Delhi and that they needed to post a big total to challenge the strong Indian batting line-up. Martin Guptill got the Kiwis off to a flier hitting Hardik Pandya for 2 monstrous sixes before he was LBW to an inswinger from Umesh Yadav after scoring 27 off just 21 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. New Zealand’s skipper, Kane Williamson who scored a century in the previous game failed to pick a slower delivery from Jadhav that didn’t turn and was palpably LBW.

Ross Taylor seemed to find some semblance of form before he was beaten by a well flighted delivery from Mishra and Dhoni pulled off an excellent stumping. All Kiwi fans would have had a sense of deja vu after seeing the New Zealand middle order collapse again. At one stage they were 153/2 in the 29th over and they looked certain to post a total in the region of 300. However, they lost 6 wickets for just 46 runs in a little more than 9 overs. It was due to a combination of some good bowling and some indifferent shots.

Kedar Jadhav who is soon developing a reputation of a man with a golden arm, added the wickets of Corey Anderson and Todd Latham and claimed 3 wickets off his 5 overs, conceding just 29 runs. Anderson scored 6 runs off 5 deliveries with one four. Tim Southee scored a quick 13 off 12 balls with 2 fours. Mishra once again showed the value of having a leg-spinner in the side as he took 2 wickets conceding just 46 runs in his quota of 10 overs.

Dhoni was excellent behind the stumps and pulled off a couple of brilliant stumpings. New Zealand were 199/8 off 37.5 overs and looked in danger of being bowled out without playing their quota of overs which is a cardinal sin in ODI cricket . However, James Neesham and Matt Henry had other ideas. They began cautiously but punished all loose deliveries and kept the scorecard ticking along at a brisk rate.

The 9th wicket partnership added 84 off just 67 balls and made sure that New Zealand posted a defendable total. New Zealand were bowled out for 285 off 49.4 overs. Jasprit Bumrah bowled 9.4 overs and conceded 52 runs while picking up 2 wickets while Hardik Pandya bowled 5 overs and conceded 34 runs without picking up a wicket. New Zealand total was a competitive one and they had the momentum going into the break.

Rohit Sharma got India off to a quick start hitting Matt Henry for 2 boundaries off the very first over. This showed that India were not overawed by the total. The pitch was a batting beauty and the ball was coming on the bat. Kohli gave a simple chance to Ross Taylor off the bowling of Henry but he (Taylor) grassed the chance. At that stage, India were 23/1 and Kohli’s wicket could have set the cat amongst the pigeons. Kohli was batting on 6 at that time and India would have been in trouble, particularly with an inexperienced middle order.

Rohit Sharma failed to pick a slower delivery from Southee and was out LBW after scoring 13 off 21 balls with 2 fours. India were 41/2 and Dhoni decided to promote himself up the order. The duo started cautiously playing the bowling on its merit. Kohli soon got into his stride while Dhoni got into the act hitting Santner for a huge six over long off. Both players are excellent runners between the wickets and took every opportunity to convert ones into twos and put pressure on the New Zealand fielders. They made sure that the asking run rate hovered around a run a ball which was never a threat with 8 wickets in hand. The pair put on 151 runs in 27.1 overs and the match was as good as over. Dhoni fell when he was caught by Ross Taylor off the bowling of Henry as he was surprised by the lack of pace of the delivery off the pitch. He scored 80 off 91 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes.

Manish Pandey came in at the fall of Dhoni’s wicket and could afford to take a few balls. Kohli was scoring freely at that stage and the asking rate was under control. Kohli reached his 26th ODI century by steering Neesham to third man for a single. It was his 16th century in a run chase and 11th at home. After that he just cut loose and he played one of the shots of the match when he drove Boult for a six into the sight screen. He took 22 runs off the 48th over from Boult. Pandey struck the winning shot when he pulled Henry through mid-wicket and India had won by 7 wickets with 10 balls to spare. Kohli remained unbeaten on 154 and was named the Man of the Match. In the process he equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 14 centuries in a winning cause while chasing a target.

The 4th ODI will be played at Ranchi on the 26th of October.