Indore, Jan 18 (.) A late assault led by skipper Michael Bracewell, combined with a monumental 219-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, propelled New Zealand to a commanding 337 for 8 against India in the third One-Day International of the New Zealand tour of India at the Holkar Cricket Stadium here today.
Put in to bat after India won the toss and opted to bowl, New Zealand suffered an early double blow. Arshdeep Singh struck in the opening over as Henry Nicholls played on for a first-ball duck, before Harshit Rana continued his fine series against Devon Conway, inducing an edge to Rohit Sharma at first slip. The visitors were reduced to 5 for 2 inside two overs.
Will Young and Daryl Mitchell steadied the innings with a cautious rebuilding phase. Young played some fluent strokes, including a six off Rana, before falling for 30, caught sharply by Ravindra Jadeja at backward point, giving Rana his second wicket and leaving New Zealand at 58 for 3 in the 13th over.
From that point on, Mitchell produced another masterclass in consistency and composure. He reached his half-century with a glance off Kuldeep Yadav and later celebrated his hundred — his third in the last four innings — with a roar of delight as the New Zealand dressing room rose to applaud. Mitchell was severe on anything short or overpitched, repeatedly pulling and driving with authority to keep the scoreboard moving.
Phillips, after a cautious start, exploded into life. He brought up his sixth ODI 50 with a single off Nitish Kumar Reddy and soon shifted gears dramatically. Phillips used his feet well against Kuldeep Yadav, launching him for a six straight down the ground, while also punishing the seamers with powerful cuts and pulls. His hundred came in style off Arshdeep, a slower bouncer pulled to fine leg, as Phillips removed his helmet, looked skyward and soaked in the applause from team-mates and the fans. It was his second ODI century, completed off 83 balls.
Together, Mitchell and Phillips completely dominated the middle overs, raising a massive 219-run stand for the fourth wicket. India’s bowlers struggled to contain the pair as boundaries flowed regularly, including successive sixes off Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja, pushing New Zealand past 250 and firmly into command.
The partnership was finally broken in the 44th over when Phillips edged Arshdeep to KL Rahul for a scintillating 106 off 88 balls. Mitchell’s outstanding innings ended soon after, when Mohammed Siraj’s slower off-cutter induced a top-edge, safely held by Kuldeep Yadav near the boundary, drawing warm applause from Virat Kohli and the India fielders. Mitchell departed for 137 off 131 deliveries, having struck 15 fours and three sixes.
The late overs then belonged to Bracewell. The New Zealand captain produced a blistering finish, striking Harshit and Arshdeep for a series of clean sixes, including a straight-batted loft over deep midwicket and a towering pull that carried New Zealand beyond the 300 mark. Bracewell also benefited from a bye four off Siraj’s attempted yorker, as the ball slipped past a diving Rahul.
Bracewell remained unbeaten on 28 off just 18 balls, while Kristian Clarke chipped in with a rapid 11 before being bowled by Harshit attempting a scoop. New Zealand plundered valuable runs in the final three overs, taking 50 runs off the last five overs to finish at an imposing 337 for 8 at a run rate of 6.74.
For India, Arshdeep and Harshit were the standout wicket-takers with three wickets apiece, though both conceded runs at the death. Mohammed Siraj bowled the most economical spell, returning 1 for 43 from his 10 overs, while Kuldeep took one wicket but went for runs as the middle overs slipped away.
With little dew expected and a good batting surface on offer, India face a stiff challenge chasing a target of 338 in what promises to be a high-scoring decider at Indore.
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