A Sweep For A Sweep, Kiwis Exact Sweet Revenge

First blanking for India in a full ODI series in New Zealand; Rahul’s century goes in vain

In a stunning reversal of fortunes, New Zealand inflicted an One-Day International series whitewash (3-0) on India with a five-wicket victory in the third and final match on Tuesday.

Flying start

Henry Nicholls scored 80 off 103 balls and Martin Guptill made 66 off46 as the host scored 300 for five in 47.1 overs. Colin de Grandhomme smacked 58 not out off 28 balls at the end to help seal the win with 17 balls to spare.

Earlier, India had scored 296 for seven after being put in, thanks to K.L. Rahul’s (112) fourth ODI hundred.

New Zealand got off to a flying start as Guptill and Nicholls put on 50 off just 40 balls. Overall, they scored 106 for the first wicket.

Guptill smacked six 4s and four 6s as the Indian new-ball bowlers faced an onslaught. Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini struggled to find their rhythm and were taken for runs, while Jasprit Bumrah finished the series wicketless. Yuzvendra Chahal (3-47) provided the breakthrough, bowling Guptill in the 17th over. Nicholls scored a half-century off72 balls.

He added 53 runs with Kane Williamson, but Chahal struck twice and Ravindra Jadeja removed the in-form Ross Taylor cheaply. New Zealand was reduced to 189 for four in the 33rd over.