Third ODI: India beat Kiwis by seven wickets to clinch series

Mount Maunganui: India beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the third ODI of the five-match series to clinch the five-match series 3-0 in Mount Maunganui on Monday.Chasing a target of 244 runs, India openers started cautiously. However, Shikhar got out soon after scoring only 28 runs.

Later, Indian skipper Virat Kohli (60) along with his deputy Rohit Sharma stitched together a 113-run stand to put the visitors in cruise control during their chase. After their dismissals, Ambati Rayudu (40 not out) and Dinesh Karthik (38 nout) played brilliantly to help India to chase the target with seven overs to spare.

Rohit scored 62 crucial runs before falling to Santner, while Kohli scored 60 runs before he was dismissed by Boult.Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand posted a target of 244 runs as Ross Taylor being the highest with 93 runs in 106 balls.

Ross Taylor was the highest scorer for New Zealand as he played a crucial knock of 93 runs in 106 balls with nine fours before falling to Shami.Tom Latham also scored 51 runs in 64 balls with one four and one six.

Indian pacer Shami was the pick of the Indian bowlers taking 3/41 in his  9 overs, while Bhuvneshwar, Chahal and Pandya took two wickets each.All rounder Hardik Pandya made a brilliant comeback into the team by taking 2 wickets for 45 in his 10 overs.

Pandya, who was suspended and ordered to return home from Australia  along with KL Rahul after the two created a controversy with their  sexists comments on Koffee with Karan.

The duo missed the three-match ODI series against Australia and the first two ODIs against New Zealand.(UNI)