In Short
The BLACKCAPS won the fourth ODI in Ranchi by 19 runs, to force a series decider and get the chance to claim a historic series win in the tour finale on Saturday.
Down 2-1 in the series, India had the chance to wrap up the best of five ODI series, but were undone by a BLACKCAPS unit which put together their best performance of the series.
While not the prettiest cricket you'll see, the BLACKCAPS batsmen scrapped and fought their way to 260-7 in the first innings. The bowlers backed that up with a controlled display, keeping India under pressure.
While coming down to the penultimate over, the visitors held their nerve to secure victory with eight balls to spare and keep their dream alive of a first ever ODI series victory in India.
BLACKCAPS XI: Guptill, Latham, Williamson (c), Taylor, Neesham, Watling, Devcich, Santner, Southee, Sodhi, Boult
India XI: Sharma, Rahane, Kohli, Dhoni (c), Pandey, Jadhav, Patel, Pandya, Mishra, Yadav, Kulkarni
Kane calls correctly
In his sixth attempt on tour - BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson finally predicted which side the coin would fall on - HEADS. Ironically the tacky looking Ranchi pitch meant it wasn’t clear which option was best first but Williamson still pushed on and committed to batting for the fourth consecutive time this ODI series. He also revealed three changes for this match with spinners Ish Sodhi and Anton Devcich brought into the XI alongside keeper BJ Watling.
The openers stand tall
Martin Guptill (72 off 84) and Tom Latham (39 off 40) got the BLACKCAPS off to flyer. They took 80 runs off the first 10 overs and gave the innings some much needed oomph which aided their course in the end as batting got tougher. Guptill used the aerial route while Latham played the classical shots - a great combo and a stellar 96 run opening stand which set up the total.
Hard graft
After the initial fireworks, there was hard work to be done through the middle overs. As the ball softened up it slowed up and the Indian spinners were a handful to get away. Patient partnerships between Guptill and Williamson and then Williamson and Taylor ensured the BLACKCAPS would get a decent total on the board on a pitch which was playing increasingly tough. Never the glamorous work, but was the nuts and bolts of a competitive total.
Spin v Pace
The contrast between the two was stark. The Indian spinners conceded just 107 runs from their 28 overs at 3.82 an over while the pace bowlers went for 150 from the other 22 overs at 6.81 an over.
Sodhi strikes big
Off the back of his match winning 153*, the wicket of Virat Kohli was always going to be huge. And just as he did at the World Twenty20, leg spinner Ish Sodhi dismissed the Indian maestro. Once again it was a caught behind as Kohli tried to cut a ball which was to full and could only knick it into the gloves of keeper BJ Watling. Points to Sodhi for the one handed fist pump celebration!
Neesham double
At 128-2 in the 28th over, the game was right in the balance with Ajinkya Rahane and captain MS Dhoni at the crease for the hosts. Neesham would account for both in the space of three overs as he first trapped Rahane LBW for 57 then clean bowled Dhoni for 11.
Latham’s hands
A couple of crucial catches from the little opener. The first one was an absolute beauty at mid on to remove the dangerous Manesh Pandey. Latham timed his jump perfectly to leap at full stretch and pluck a cracking catch out of the sky. His second was an impressive running catch at long off to remove Hardick Panyda and reduce India to 167-7.
