New Zealand won the opening ODI at Eden Park, Auckland by seven wickets. The remaining two ODIs – in Hamilton and Christchurch – were washed out due to rain.
Expecting a 2-0 finish, New Zealand were 50 runs ahead on the Duckworth-Lewis method but at least 20 overs of play were needed to complete the match.
Third and final #NZvIND ODI canceled due to rain 🌧️New Zealand win series 1-0.Scorecard 👉… https://t.co/p2oar0jyQo
—BCCI (@BCCI) 1669799258000
With the rain showing no signs of abating, the referees decided to call off the race.
Devon Conway (38 not out) and skipper Kane Williamson, who had yet to open his account, were in trouble during the rain interruption.
The devastating opener Finn Allen (57 for 54) was the only wicket to fall for New Zealand. Right arm pacer Umran Malik claimed Allen’s wicket.
Overall, only two games in the six-ball white-ball series yielded results, exposing poor planning on the part of the concerned authorities. The series was staged less than a week after the T20 World Cup in neighboring Australia.
Image Credit: BlackCaps Twitter handle
As for India, the series exposed their flawed selection policy.
It all started with an inspiring bowling display by the Kiwi pacers with comebacks Adam Milne (3/57) and Daryl Mitchell (7-0-25-3) grouping India for 219 in 47.3 overs after Kane Williamson won a good toss at an indoor Hagley Oval.
The likes of Rishabh Pant (10 off 16 balls), Suryakumar Yadav (6;10b) and Deepak Hooda (12;25b) were major failures as they lacked application and failed to bid time after Milne rocked to the max.
Looking to salvage the series, India found themselves in trouble, losing half their team in 25.3 overs.
But through the efforts of Washington Sundar (51 off 64 balls; 5×4, 1×6) and Shreyas Iyer (49; 59b) India managed to pass the 200-run mark.
Mline, who missed the second ODI, took on the opening duo of Shubman Gill (13;22b) and Shikhar Dhawan (28;45b) after Matt Henry smothered them with a tidy bowling display (10-2- 29-0), before Mitchell and Tim Southee (8.3-1-36-2) concluded the matter.
Dhawan and his men were further let down by an inexperienced bowling attack as they struggled to get a breakthrough.
(with PTI inputs)
