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Kiwis cruise past India
Cuttack, Nov 07:New Zealand kept their triangular series final hopes afloat with a superb four-wicket win over India.
Cuttack, Nov 07:New Zealand kept their triangular series final hopes afloat with a superb four-wicket win over India.
The Kiwis now have a live chance of joining Australia in the decider after Craig McMillan (82 not out) and Scott Styris (68) batted them to victory.
The pair put on 127 runs for the fifth wicket to propel New Zealand to victory with 15 balls to spare.
Earlier, India made 246-9 with Mohammad Kaif hitting 64 and Daryl Tuffey and Styris taking three wickets each.
TVS CUP TABLE Australia P4 W3 L1 NR0 Pts18 NRR1.12 India P4 W1 L2 NR1 Pts9 NRR-0.37 New Zealand P4 W1 L2 NR1 Pts9 NRR-1.11
After winning the toss, India lost Sachin Tendulkar lbw to Kyle Mills for just 14 in vital early blow for the visitors.
But Kaif held the innings together, putting on 50 runs for the second wicket with surprise opener VVS Laxman (31), who was in for the omitted Virender Sehwag.
It was one of three changes for India, who left out Parthiv Patel and leg-spinner Anil Kumble for Hemang Badani and Murali Kartik.
Laxman's dismissal, caught and bowled by Styris, preceded Daniel Vettori's double strike to remove Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh as India fell to 136-4.
Kaif was bowled by Styris in the 39th over, and the Kiwis bowled with discipline until the final overs, when 22 runs came off the last nine balls.
Badani added 41 off 45 balls before Tuffey had him caught and Zaheer Khan provided some late fireworks with 33 off just 13 balls. New Zealand found themselves in real trouble early in their run-chase, slumping to 68-4 with Zaheer claiming two wickets.
Ajit Agarkar struck first, trapping skipper Stephen Fleming lbw for 24, and Chris Harris and Lou Vincent soon followed in the same way to Zaheer.
India were well on top when opener Chris Nevin was caught off Harbhajan Singh at the end of the 14th over.
But McMillan and Styris turned the game on its head with a wonderful partnership.
When Styris departed, lbw to Kartik at the beginning of the 40th over, New Zealand needed just 52 more runs to win.
A Jacob Oram run-out three overs later gave India some hope, but McMillan found an able partner in keeper Brendon McCullum, who hit four boundaries in his 19 not out.
McMillan's 18th one-day half-century included six boundaries and one six, and could not have come at a better time for his team.
The next fixture of the series is between New Zealand and Australia, taking place on Sunday in Guwahati. New Zealand found themselves in real trouble early in their run-chase, slumping to 68-4 with Zaheer claiming two wickets.
Ajit Agarkar struck first, trapping skipper Stephen Fleming lbw for 24, and Chris Harris and Lou Vincent soon followed in the same way to Zaheer.
India were well on top when opener Chris Nevin was caught off Harbhajan Singh at the end of the 14th over.
But McMillan and Styris turned the game on its head with a wonderful partnership.
When Styris departed, lbw to Kartik at the beginning of the 40th over, New Zealand needed just 52 more runs to win.
A Jacob Oram run-out three overs later gave India some hope, but McMillan found an able partner in keeper Brendon McCullum, who hit four boundaries in his 19 not out.
McMillan's 18th one-day half-century included six boundaries and one six, and could not have come at a better time for his team.
The next fixture of the series is between New Zealand and Australia, taking place on Sunday in Guwahati. Bureau Report
The Kiwis now have a live chance of joining Australia in the decider after Craig McMillan (82 not out) and Scott Styris (68) batted them to victory.
The pair put on 127 runs for the fifth wicket to propel New Zealand to victory with 15 balls to spare.
Earlier, India made 246-9 with Mohammad Kaif hitting 64 and Daryl Tuffey and Styris taking three wickets each.
TVS CUP TABLE Australia P4 W3 L1 NR0 Pts18 NRR1.12 India P4 W1 L2 NR1 Pts9 NRR-0.37 New Zealand P4 W1 L2 NR1 Pts9 NRR-1.11
After winning the toss, India lost Sachin Tendulkar lbw to Kyle Mills for just 14 in vital early blow for the visitors.
But Kaif held the innings together, putting on 50 runs for the second wicket with surprise opener VVS Laxman (31), who was in for the omitted Virender Sehwag.
It was one of three changes for India, who left out Parthiv Patel and leg-spinner Anil Kumble for Hemang Badani and Murali Kartik.
Laxman's dismissal, caught and bowled by Styris, preceded Daniel Vettori's double strike to remove Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh as India fell to 136-4.
Kaif was bowled by Styris in the 39th over, and the Kiwis bowled with discipline until the final overs, when 22 runs came off the last nine balls.
Badani added 41 off 45 balls before Tuffey had him caught and Zaheer Khan provided some late fireworks with 33 off just 13 balls. New Zealand found themselves in real trouble early in their run-chase, slumping to 68-4 with Zaheer claiming two wickets.
Ajit Agarkar struck first, trapping skipper Stephen Fleming lbw for 24, and Chris Harris and Lou Vincent soon followed in the same way to Zaheer.
India were well on top when opener Chris Nevin was caught off Harbhajan Singh at the end of the 14th over.
But McMillan and Styris turned the game on its head with a wonderful partnership.
When Styris departed, lbw to Kartik at the beginning of the 40th over, New Zealand needed just 52 more runs to win.
A Jacob Oram run-out three overs later gave India some hope, but McMillan found an able partner in keeper Brendon McCullum, who hit four boundaries in his 19 not out.
McMillan's 18th one-day half-century included six boundaries and one six, and could not have come at a better time for his team.
The next fixture of the series is between New Zealand and Australia, taking place on Sunday in Guwahati. New Zealand found themselves in real trouble early in their run-chase, slumping to 68-4 with Zaheer claiming two wickets.
Ajit Agarkar struck first, trapping skipper Stephen Fleming lbw for 24, and Chris Harris and Lou Vincent soon followed in the same way to Zaheer.
India were well on top when opener Chris Nevin was caught off Harbhajan Singh at the end of the 14th over.
But McMillan and Styris turned the game on its head with a wonderful partnership.
When Styris departed, lbw to Kartik at the beginning of the 40th over, New Zealand needed just 52 more runs to win.
A Jacob Oram run-out three overs later gave India some hope, but McMillan found an able partner in keeper Brendon McCullum, who hit four boundaries in his 19 not out.
McMillan's 18th one-day half-century included six boundaries and one six, and could not have come at a better time for his team.
The next fixture of the series is between New Zealand and Australia, taking place on Sunday in Guwahati. Bureau Report