India beat New Zealand by 7 wickets in 3rd ODI 

Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 154 off just 134 deliveries as India beat New Zealand by seven wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match One-Day International (ODI) cricket series here on Sunday.

Kohli, who scored his 26th ODI century, shared a 151-run stand with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (80) as India chased down New Zealand’s total of 285 all out with 10 balls to spare.

It was a day of records for Dhoni, who not only became the fifth Indian to complete 9,000 ODI career runs during his 61st fifty but also became the first wicket-keeper to effect 150 stumping dismissals.

The big wicket of Latham also came through a poor shot as he drove straight a Jadhav delivery at Pandya at short cover. Latham’s innings witnessed three hits to the fence and one over it. All-rounder Mitchell Santner (7) too perished, as a leading edge off a Jasprit Bumrah delivery went to Virat Kohli at point, reducing the visiting side to 180/7 in 34.2 overs. Tim Southee (13) was bowled by Yadav as the New Zealanders reeled at 199/8 in 37.5 overs.

New Zealand’s hopes of putting Dhoni under pressure evaporated as soon as Dhoni moved out of his crease to whack a bouncer from paceman Tim Southee. The duo of Kohli and Dhoni played fluently afterwards. Mixing caution with aggression, they plundered boundaries at regular intervals to ease the run rate pressure. Dhoni smashed six fours and three sixes during his 91-ball innings and when he got out — a catch by Taylor at short cover off Henry delivery — his team was in a strong position with 94 runs required from 16.1 overs.

Later, Kohli and Pandey sealed India’s win.