New Zealand levelled the five-match series with an emphatic 19-run victory over India in the fourth One-Day International at Ranchi on Sunday. Defending 260/7, the Kiwis picked up key wickets in the middle overs to ensure India fell short.
Despite the early wicket of Rohit Sharma, India seemed on course for a series-winning victory with Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli looking good in a 79-run partnership. As has become the case now, Virat Kohli's dismissal for 45 – edging behing to BJ Watling off Mitchell Santner – was the real turning point. The run-rate plunged and Ajinkya Rahane (57) was the next to follow with Jimmy Neesham rapping him plumb in front.
Neesham then made another huge breakthrough he got through MS Dhoni's defence, leaving the huge crowd in Ranchi stunned. Tim Southee broke the heart of India's chase dismissing Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav off consecutive deliveries.
Axar Patel, who had been promoted up the order, and Amit Mishra looked to keep the chase alive, ticking the strike over as they put on an almost run-a-ball 38-run stand to keep India's hopes alive. A comical run-out though had Amit Mishra walking back to the pavillion. Trent Boult yorked Axar Patel to take India's ninth wicket.
Dhawal Kulkarni, however, wasn't going to throw in the towel. He put on a display of clean hitting, getting two boundaries and a six to keep India in the hunt with 23 required off the last two overs. Umesh Yadav, however, holed out at the end to Ross Taylor at cover to give New Zealand a much-deserved series-levelling victory.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 260/7 in 50 overs (Martin Guptill 72, Kane Williamson 41; Amit Mishra 2/41, Axar Patel 1/38) beat India 241 all out in 48.4 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 57, Virat Kohli 45; Tim Southee 3/40, Trent Boult 2/48) by 19 runs.