Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar smashed an unbeaten 163 runs of just 133 balls with five sixes and sixteen boundaries to help India to compile a mammoth total of 392/4 in their 50 overs. This was Sachin 43rd century in one day international. After putting into bat by acting Captain B.McCullum India did not get to a great start as they did on previous two occasions in the series.
With the ball moving around Sehwag and Gambhir found difficulty in get going as India lost two quick wickets with just 65 runs on the board. However a man (Yuvraj Singh) who was so far silent on the tour with bat came all guns blazing and smashed a quick fire 87 runs of just 60 balls to not only bring India back on track but also set the platform for other batsman to follow to capitalize on the momentum.
Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar put on 138 runs of just 101 balls for the third wicket before Yuvraj got out in the 30th over of Indian innings. He missed his century by thirteen runs. Dismissal of Yuvraj did not bothered Tendulkar as he continued to play in the same manner and was well on course of breaking his own record of highest score in ODI which is also against New Zeland, but due to injury he has to retired hurt in the 45th over of an Indian innings for 163 runs.
B.McCullum who is captaining the side for the first time found difficult going againstthe famed Indian batting lineup as his all bowler hammered all round the shorter AMI Stadium except K.Mills.
K.Mills bowled brilliantly and picked up two crucial wickets of dangerous Sehwag and Dhoni conceding just 58 runs in his 10 over spell.
Regular captain Daniel Vettori left the team for the birth of his first child, as off-spinner Jeetan Patel came replaced him, while Tim Southee returned to replace Iain O'Brien.
Indian team on the other hand went on to this match with unchanged eleven.
New Zealand started their run chase well let’s hope we didn’t see one sided game. After 8 overs New Zealand were 48/0 with B.McCullum batting on 13 runs of 20 balls and J.Ryder batting on 34 runs of 28 balls.
Match Summary
India – 392/4 in 50 Overs
S.Tendulkar- 163*Y.Singh –87
M.S.Dhoni – 68S.Raina- 38*
K.Mills– 10-0-58-2I.Butler– 5-0-37-1
Playing XI for both teams
India Squad: Sachin Tendulkar, V.Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Y.Singh, S.Raina, M.S.Dhoni (Captain & WK), Yusuf Pathan, H.Singh, Z.Khan, P.Kumar, M.Patel.
New Zealand Squad: Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum (Captain), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram, P. McGlashan (WK), Grant Elliott, J.Patel, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler, T.Southee.
India Vs New Zealand 3rd ODI – Sachin Tendulkar innings of 163 runs
