In their last overseas ODI before the ICC World Cup, India defeated New Zealand by 35 runs to win the five-match series 4-1 in Wellington on Sunday, 3 February.
The visitors bowled New Zealand out for 217 in 44.1 overs, courtesy an all-round performance by their bowling attack.
This was after, Rayudu (90 off 113) and Vijay Shankar (45 off 64) shared a 98-run stand for the fifth wicket to lead India's recovery before a spectacular cameo from Hardik Pandya (45 off 22) pushed India past 250.
India Won Toss, Made 3 Changes
After a 'humiliating' loss in the fourth ODI in which India were shot out for 92, captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and took the challenge of batting first on a surface aiding the fast bowlers.
India made three changes in the playing eleven.
A fit again Mahendra Singh Dhoni was back in the team in place of Dinesh Karthik while Mohammad Shami and Shankar replaced Khaleel Ahmed and Kuldeep Yadav. The chinaman bowler was rested from the game.
India’s Innings
Trent Boult and Matt Henry swung the ball at express pace and shared two wickets each to leave India reeling at 18 for 4 in seven overs.
Rohit Sharma (2) was outdone by a beauty from Henry, the one that moved away from the middle stump line to dislodge the off-stump.
In the next over, Shikhar Dhawan (6) slashed one hard to be caught at third man while the young Shubman Gill (7), getting his second game of the series, scooped a simple catch to the cover fielder in the very next over.
Dhoni (1), playing after the missing the last two games due to injury, was bowled by Trent Boult, a peach of a delivery that swung back sharp and late to take the Indian wicketkeeper's off-stump.
Rayudu (90 off 113) and Vijay Shankar (45 off 64) then shared a 98-run stand for the fifth wicket to lead India's recovery. Shankar however, missed out on well-deserved fifty as he got run out after a mix-up with Rayudu.
Rayudu at the other end began to play his strokes and hammered Colin de Grandhomme for two consecutive boundaries to bring up his 10th ODI fifty. A little later, he smashed Colin Munro for successive sixes before he perished after trying to hit another one out of the park. Rayudu's crucial knock comprised eight fours and four sixes.
Pandya took the centrestage after Rayudu's fall and once again showed what he brings to the table late the innings.
Pandya's brute power was on full display when he whacked leggie Todd Astle for three sixes in as many balls. The all-rounder did not even spare the in-form Boult, pulling him over midwicket for another maximum. His cameo included two fours and five sixes
New Zealand’s Innings
New Zealand batsmen, including skipper Kane Williamson (39), squandered their starts in the chase but the home team remained in the contest until Jimmy Neesham (44 off 32) was dismissed in the 37th over.
His freak run out, which was effected by the ever so sharp MS Dhoni from behind the stumps, came after a lbw appeal was turned down. New Zealand eventually ended with 217 in 44.1 overs despite Matt Henry's unbeaten 17 off 9 in the final overs.
Leggie Yuvzendra Chahal took three timely wickets for India, conceding just 41 runs in 10 overs.
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