Mohali: After the defeat in the last ODI at the Kotla, some questions were raised about India's finishing. On Sunday, Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave thumping reply to that as India completed a masterful chase to win the third ODI by seven wickets.
At the packed Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Kohli (154 not out) and Dhoni (80) made the 286-run look easy as the hosts romped home with 10 balls to spare.
Kohli and Dhoni, who promoted himself to No.4 in the batting order, were involved in a third-wicket partnership of 151 runs to help India take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Dhoni looked in his old self with the bat and authored a powerful innings.
And then there was Kohli. His presence at the crease oozed confidence and together with Dhoni, they were looking simply unstoppable.
Barring the one catch that he offered in the fifth over, with the chance being floored by Ross Taylor at the slip when the batsman was on six, Kohli was a picture of perfection.
Kohli was a lesson for many on Sunday. So focused was he on his job that he only briefly raised his bat after reaching his 26th ODI century in the 41st over. Why? Perhaps because India were still 72 runs away from the target and the century, at that point, mattered little to him.
India were four runs short of victory when Kohli reached 150. He smiled and raised his bat to acknowledge the standing ovation of the crowd. The job was almost done and he could afford a more elaborate celebration.
Kohli stayed till the end to finish it. With Manish Pandey, who remained unbeaten on 28, Kohli was involved in an unbeaten 97-run fourth wicket partnership.
Dhoni joined Kohli at 41 for two and then added 151 runs in 163 balls for the third wicket. Watching the two bat was pure ecstasy for the fans.
When Dhoni walked in, Kohli had already put on 21 runs against his name. But soon Dhoni caught up with him.
During his innings, Dhoni completed his 9000 runs in ODIs with a stunning six over long on off Mitchell Santner in the 17th over. In the 27th over, the Indian captain effortlessly lifted James Neesham for another six to become the highest hitter of sixes for India in ODIs. But Dhoni's innings was a mix of caution and aggression. His hit six fours and three sixes before Matt Henry dismissed him in the 36th over.
Dhoni's exit, however, brought no respite for New Zealand. Kohli and Pandey took over the responsibility and finished off the job with clinical precision. Kohli hit 16 fours and one six during his 134-balls knock. In three ODI innings against New Zealand in the current series, Kohli remained not out on two occasions.
Earlier, the visitors once again collapsed in the middle overs and were reduced to 199 for eight in 37.5 overs. But just when it looked all over for them, Neesham paired up with Henry (39 not out) to slam 84 runs off 67 balls for a record ninth-wicket partnership. It brought New Zealand back into the contest.
Neesham and Henry upset India's calculations somewhat.
New Zealand made a good start but once the spinners came in, things started to go India's way. While the run rate slowed down drastically, wickets fell at regular intervals.
Neesham and Henry not only arrested the slump but also revived the run rate. They batted with aggression after the third Powerplay was introduced. In the last 10 overs, New Zealand scored 74 runs. Neesham's 57 was scored off 47 balls. Henry hit four fours and one six.
Spinners Kedar Jadhav and Amit Mishra were the most impressive for India with three and two wickets, respectively.
Except for opener Tom Latham, who once again excelled with the bat scoring 61, the other New Zealand batsmen looked vulnerable against spin bowling.
Off-spinner Jadhav is proving to be a sensation in the ongoing series. Basically a part-time bowler, the 31-year-old has only one first-class wicket in his kitty.
In the domestic circuit, he is widely known as an aggressive batsman and a wicketkeeper. In the IPL, Jadhav has kept wickets in 23 matches.
Yet, at the PCA Stadium here on Sunday, Jadhav turned out to be one of India's key bowlers by sending back Latham, skipper Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson.
His figure of three for 29 in five overs was the best among the Indians. Umesh Yadav also took three wickets but gave away 75 runs in 10 overs.
