Arshdeep Singh produced a match-winning spell with the ball as India defended a modest 209 to beat New Zealand by 22 runs in the fifth and final ODI at Bay Oval on Sunday, sealing the series 3-1.
It was India’s first ODI series victory in New Zealand in seven years, and only the third time they have won a bilateral ODI series on New Zealand soil. It was also India’s first ODI series win in overseas conditions under head coach Gautam Gambhir, two days after the hosts had hammered India by 244 runs at the same venue.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl, and their seamers made the decision pay. Rohit Sharma fell for 7 and Virat Kohli for 5, his third consecutive single-digit score in the series, as India slipped to 33 for 2 inside eight overs. Kohli, caught behind off Matthew Fisher, equalled his career-worst tally for most single-digit dismissals in a single ODI series, a slump he had not suffered in 11 years.
Shreyas Iyer, leading India for the second match running, made 22 and Naman Dhir added 22, but no Indian batter reached fifty. Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel top-scored with 46 each, Kishan from 58 balls and Axar from 55, before Mitchell Santner removed both men on his way to 3 for 47. Jacob Duffy took 3 for 60 and Fisher 2 for 28 as India were bowled out for 209 in 42.1 overs.
The last-wicket pair then changed the game. Arshdeep smashed 14 off four balls, including two sixes, and Mohammed Siraj stayed unbeaten on 14 as they added 26 in 10 balls to push India past 200.
Arshdeep then led the defence, removing Will Young for 22 and Nick Kelly for 24, the latter chopping onto his stumps, to finish with 3 for 30 from 10 overs, including two maidens. Siraj, playing his first match of the series, took 2 for 50, while Axar finished the contest by having Jacob Duffy caught at long-on and Blair Tickner stumped for 14.
Dean Foxcroft top-scored for New Zealand with 31 and Santner made 24, but the hosts were bowled out for 187 in 48.1 overs. Debutant Yash Thakur and Auqib Nabi took a wicket each, and Arshdeep was named Player of the Match.
Former captain Kane Williamson watched from the stands at a sold-out Bay Oval. India had won the first two matches in Auckland and Wellington, the third in Hamilton was washed out, and New Zealand’s huge win in the fourth had set up the decider. Attention now turns to the two-match Test series, starting at Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test at Hagley Oval from November 27.
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