Mishra five-for delivers series win

Even before a large number of cattle egrets could take their eyes off the stadium lights and head home not long after sundown, New Zealand’s chances of posting its first One-Day International series win in India had taken a massive hit.

By then, New Zealand was down to 66 for 5 from 16 overs in pursuit of 270 at the Dr YS Rajashekara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium on Saturday (October 29). Perhaps, had Kane Williamson or Ross Taylor hung around long enough, it would’ve had a chance, but with Amit Mishra (5 for 18) putting on an exquisite display of leg-spin bowling on a helpful track, it had absolutely no hope.

As a result of a stunning batting collapse that saw the last eight wickets go down for 16 runs, New Zealand was bowled out for 79 in 23.1 overs, India coasting to a comprehensive 190-run rout and sealing the five-match series 3-2. It was New Zealand’s lowest ODI total against India.

Although it was Rohit Sharma’s 70, Virat Kohli’s 65 and a middle order which finally came to the party that carried India to 269 for 6 from 50 overs after Mahendra Singh Dhoni chose to bat first, Mishra’s spell was the one that took the wind out of New Zealand’s sails.

A beautiful out-swinger from Umesh Yadav got rid of a shaky Martin Guptill and Tom Latham was undone by a length ball from Jasprit Bumrah that held up on him. At 28 for 2, New Zealand’s chase looked out of sorts, but with Williamson looking at his majestic best and Taylor having shaken off the cobwebs in the previous game, there was some hope.

Unfortunately, that hope lasted only so long as Williamson stepped out and looked to take on Axar Patel. Instead, he played an inside-out lob to Kedar Jadhav at long-off. Jadhav, who had contributed with a crucial 39 not out in India’s innings, completed a good catch moving to his left.

That was a major dent to New Zealand’s dreams of a historic win. What it didn’t know at the time was that this was merely the beginning of a spectacular meltdown.

Mishra, who until that point wasn’t able to get his length worked out -- dew probably had a part to play -- sent Taylor packing with a flat, short of length ball outside the off-stump. Taylor’s penchant for the cut is all too well known and Dhoni had a couple of fielders manning the area behind point. Taylor, however, took the risk and slashed hard, only to edge it to Dhoni.

Mishra was more relieved than elated at that moment, but the ball he came up with to get rid of BJ Watling brought him more joy than the previous scalp did.

After drawing Watling forward to defend a regulation leg-break outside the off-stump, Mishra, who had held back on the googlies until then, let one rip. Watling, playing only his second ball, lunged forward but the ball sneaked between bat and pad and crashed into the stumps to end his very brief stay. Then there was the wicket of James Neesham. The ball landed on the rough well outside the off-stump and jagged back in to wiggle through Neesham’s defences.

Two beauties and Mishra was in the zone. That meant a lower middle order, which hasn’t been up to scratch this series, was going to face the music. Sure enough, Dhoni brought in a couple of close-in fielders to add to the pressure. From there on, New Zealand folded without a fight.

The clinical efficiency with which India batted is what set the tone for this resounding victory. Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane laid a solid base with the duo adding 40 for the opening wicket before the latter was dismissed for 20. Unsurprisingly the crowd got louder at the fall of Rahane’s wicket because out came No. 3, Kohli.

He started in typical Kohli fashion by rotating the strike. In any case, Rohit was set by the time Kohli walked in, so all he had to do was tuck into the slipstream and wait for his turn to switch gears.

Rohit, not in a mood for mercy, went after New Zealand’s bowlers after a fairly docile start. It looked like Rohit was set for a big one, but for an injury to his hip in the 17th over. Notwithstanding the niggle, Rohit brought up his 29th ODI half-century and raised hopes of another big one. Those hopes ended when he pulled Trent Boult to Neesham at fine-leg.

Once again, the crowd only got louder after the dismissal, and this time it was to herald the arrival of Dhoni. Dhoni started shakily but then gathered momentum and reached 41 when he was trapped in front of the stumps by Mitchell Santner.

The 71-run partnership between Kohli and Dhoni had taken India to 190 for 3 in 37.3 overs, and now it was up to the middle order to add to it. The signs were not favourable as Manish Pandey played a nothing shot and got out to Ish Sodhi for nought.

Sodhi had been expensive so far but his first scalp would’ve soothed his wounds. The day got better for Sodhi as he deceived Kohli in flight and had him toe-end a floater on off-stump straight to Guptill at long-off. Axar and Jadhav then came up with a couple of fine cameos to ensure India would reach a healthy total.

In hindsight, it turned out to be one that was far more formidable than anyone at the stadium expected.