India Create History - Win Series in NZ!

India created history in New Zealand by winning both ODI and Test series. India beat New Zealand 3-1 in the ODI and 1-0 in the Test Series.

India played 5 ODIs and 3 test matches between March and Aprili 2009. India lost the T20 series 0-2. They came back very well in the ODI series. New Zealand did not come close in any of the matches. The 3rd ODI was abandoned when India was leading 2-0, winning the first two. The 4th ODI was also won by India leading the series 3-0. The last match was won by NZ--a consolation win.

NZ did not bat well in the first test and were bundled out for 279 in both the innings. India scored mammoth 520 with a wonderful 160 from Sachin. Harbhajan picked 6 wickets in the 2nd innings where Ishanth Sharma picked 4 in the first innings. India chased 39 in 6 overs without losing a wicket. Sachin was declared man of the match.

Though India was forced to follow-on in the 2nd Test trailing by 314 runs, a century by Gambhir (137) and Laxman (124 not out) helped India to force a draw. NZ scored 619 in the first innings with a double century from Ryder (201), century each from Taylor (151) and McCullum (115). India did not do well and was all out for 305 at the end of Day 3 with 17 overs still left in the day. Dravid was the top scorer with 83 followed by Laxman 79. Sachin scored 49. Vettori asked India to bat again with almost 197 overs in hand. India played slowly on Day 4 scoring just 205 runs in 90 overs, but the key factor was that they lost just one wicket. From 47 for 1 in 17 overs on Day 3, they moved to 252 for 2 at the end of Day 4, still trailing by 62 runs. Dravid (62 off 220 balls), Tendulkar (62 off 131 balls), and Yuvaraj (54 not out off 63 balls) scored half-centuries and contributed to the draw. Ryder was declared man of the match.

India had a good chance of winning the third test but a delayed declaration and mis-calculation by skipper Dhoni helped the Kiwis to draw the match. Rain stopped play on Day 5 which was perfectly predicted by the weather department. India scored 379 in the first innings--thanks to Harbhajan (60) and Zaheer (33). Dhoni scored 52 and proved once again that he can contribute at crucial times. Harbhajan and Dhoni added 79 for the 7th wicket. Followed by 32 run partnership between Bhajji and Zaheer and then another 32 between Zaheer and Ishanth.

NZ did not utilize the opportunity to score more runs in the first innings and were allout within a day on Day 2. They played just 65 overs and were dismissed for 197 giving a lead of 182 runs. Zaheer picked 5 wickets--his third against New Zealand in New Zealand, equaling Erapalli Prasanna's record.

Dhoni planned for at least 600+ as a target with 110 overs in hand to bowl out NZ. The first plan worked and India set a target of 617. Gambhir scored 167, while Dravid (60), Laxman (61), and Dhoni (56 not out) scored half-centuries. India declared at 434 for 7 on Day 4.

Chasing 617, NZ were 167 for 4 with Tylor surviving two close calls. A caught at slip was ruled in favor of batsman by the third umpire thinking that the ball touched the ground.

Couple of poor decisions--plumb leg before for Vettori also cost the match. Ishanth and Munaf dropped catches. I would say Munaf as the worst fielder of the Indian side. Rain stopped play when NZ were 281 for 8 and the new ball was just taken. India needed another 30 minutes of play to complete the match, but the match was never resumed. Gambhir was given man of the match, while no man of the series was given.

Few Records:

1. India won the test series after 41 years--they won the series in 1968 (3-1).

2. India never won the ODI series and this is the first ever time that India has won the series (3-1).

3. India never crossed 300 in ODI but they did it this time. They scored 392 in the 3rd ODI.

4. India never crossed 500 in Test but they scored 520 in the first test in Hamilton.

5. India won the test match in 1976 and after that they did not win a test match in New Zealand. By winning the first test, that record was also erased.