India chase 315 in must win game

Auckland, Jan 25 (IANS) Opener Martin Guptill hit 111 off 129 balls and guided New Zealand to 314 in the third One-day International against India at Eden Park here Saturday.

The visitors need to win the game to stay alive in the five match series.

Guptill shared a 153-run stand with Kane Williamson (65) to set the foundation for an imposing total before Luke Ronchi (38 off 20) and Tim Southee (27 off 23) provided the late flourish.

Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin (1-47) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-47) were the most economical of the Indian bowlers.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and preferred to chase once again on a good batting surface.

The pacers bowled plenty of short balls throughout the innings without much success.

Guptill and Williamson reveled in opposition tactics, dismissing the short balls all around the park. The shorter straights made six-hitting easier with the ball sailing into the stands on 10 occasions.

Guptill’s fifth ODI hundred comprised 12 fours and two sixes.

Barring Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/48), the Indian speedsters proved expensive.

Replacing Ishant Sharma with Varun Aaron did not work as latter leaked 52 runs in seven overs.

The in-form Mohammed Shami had a bad day in the office, giving away 84 runs in 10 overs.