India beat New Zealand by 22 runs in the fifth one-day international at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Sunday to seal the series 3-1. It is India’s third bilateral ODI series win in New Zealand, and their first on New Zealand soil since 2019.
India were bowled out for 209 in 42.1 overs after being asked to bat first. Their bowlers then produced a superb display to dismiss New Zealand for 187 in 48.1 overs. Arshdeep Singh led the attack with 3 for 30 and was named Player of the Match.
Axar and Kishan rebuild after 34-3
India were in deep trouble at 34 for 3 in tricky batting conditions. Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan then rebuilt the innings, both making 46. Stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer, who led India in the final two ODIs of the series, added 22.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner took 3 for 47, and Jacob Duffy also claimed three wickets, finishing with 3 for 60. India lost their last wickets quickly and were bowled out for a modest 209. On a pitch that helped the bowlers, it still proved to be enough.
Dean Foxcroft top-scored for New Zealand with 31 off 42 balls, and Santner made 24. But regular wickets stopped the hosts from building a big partnership. Axar took the final wicket, finishing with 2 for 28, and every one of India’s six bowlers claimed at least one wicket. Ishan Kishan’s sharp stumping of Tickner sealed the win. ODI debutant Yash Thakur also claimed his maiden international wicket.
A first overseas series win for Gambhir
The result is India’s first overseas ODI series triumph under head coach Gautam Gambhir. It also ended New Zealand’s run of 11 straight home bilateral ODI series wins, a streak that started after India’s last visit in 2019. New Zealand had not lost a home ODI series since then.
Iyer praised his bowlers after the match. “Bowlers stood up to the occasion,” he said, adding that the attack kept stepping up despite difficult batting conditions all series. Gurnoor Brar, who took nine wickets across three games, was named Player of the Series.
India won the opening two ODIs, by five wickets in Auckland on 4 November and by four runs in Wellington on 7 November, both by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Rain washed out the third match in Hamilton on 10 November. New Zealand then forced a decider with a 244-run win in the fourth ODI at Bay Oval on 13 November. India had also won the five-match T20I series before the ODIs, 3-2.
What comes next
The two teams now move to the Test series. The first Test starts on Friday, 20 November, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, followed by the second Test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. India will take confidence from their bowlers into the longer format, while New Zealand will look to hit back on home soil.
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Sources: NDTV Sports, The Hawk, SportsTak, Mathrubhumi, Cricket World.
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