Indian cricket team begins the tough season ahead with comfortable six wickets win over New Zealand to enter the Compaq Cup Finals. Now India will play Sri Lanka in the Final on 14th of September but before Final both teams will play league match on 12th of September.
Chasing the target of 156 runs to win in 50 overs, India achieved the target in just 40.3 overs with the loss of four wickets. At one stage there was some hiccups when their big guns Sachin Tendulkar (46 runs of 55 balls), Rahul Dravid (14 runs of 45 balls) and Yuvraj Singh (8 runs of 13 balls) got out in quick succession to leave India tattering at 84/4, but thanks to match winning partnership between Suresh Raina (45 runs of 54 balls) and M.S.Dhoni (35 runs of 65 balls) of 72 runs for the fifth wicket which guided India to a comfortable six wickets win over black caps.
By achieving the target batting second Indian team also break the jinx of team loosing the game while batting second at R.Premdasa Stadium. The last time team won a game batting second was in 2007/08 season when England beat Sri Lanka by five wickets chasing 212 runs for victory.
With this win India move inch closer to achieve the top ICC ODI ranking, two more win will put India on top of the ODI ranking table.
Earlier New Zealand captain has no hesitation in electing to bat first after winning the crucial toss at R.Premdasa stadium. Indian bowling attack looks in shape right from the word go. Ashish Nehra started the New Zealand innings downfall with the wicket of Jesse Ryder on the second ball of the inning and then Brendon McCullum with one that straightened and rapped the pads in front of middle.
R.P.Singh (2/21), I.Sharma (2/26) and Yuvraj Singh (3/31) also bowled really well to bowl out New Zealand team on 155 inside the 50 overs.
Ashish Nehra was declared Player of the Match for his superb bowling spell of 3/24.
Sachin Tendulkar was adjudge Stylish Player of the Day and also received award for scoring highest runs in a game.
