Firing century by Sehwag help India seal the series 3-0 in the 5-match series. This was the fastest century by Indian. His century came off 60 balls with a huge six off Vettori over long-off.
This is one of the peculiar wins in cricket history. Normally, the team batting first win by runs and the team batting second win by wickets and balls remaining. In this case, batting second, India beat New Zealand by 84 runs using D/L method.
Ryder and McCullum put a 102-run first wicket partnership with McCullum scoring half-century. Two quick break-throughs provided by Ishanth Sharma created chance for India to come back. Going at good run rate at 114 for 23 overs, they stumbled to 175 for 5 in 37 overs.
McGlashan and Elliott played beautifully which helped NZ to add 95 runs in the last 10 overs. McGlashan scored unbeaten 56 off 42 balls with 6 fours and a six. Elliott scored 35 off 27 balls with 3 fours and a six.
Ishanth Sharma came back in place of Munaf Patel. Sachin was rested due to stomach injury and Rohit Sharma was given a chance.
India were set a target of 281 in 47 overs based on D/L method. Though the kiwis scored only 270, as per Duckworth-Lewis method, India had all the 10 wickets in hand full 47 overs.
But India had a firing start with Sehwag punishing every bowler. He reached his 50 in 31 balls with 8 fours and a six. O'Brien went for 37 runs in 3 overs and Thompson went for 42 in his 4 overs.
Gambhir scored unbeaten 63 in 67 balls with 6 fours. Sehwas reached his 100 in 60 balls with 13 fours and 4 sixes. India were 201 for no loss in 23.3 overs when rain stopped play. India has to score 117 to be in par but were 201. So, India beat NZ by 84 runs.
No discussion in deciding the man of the match--the sole winner of the match Sehwag was given the award.
Scoreboard:
Tour: India to New Zealand
Series: ODI
Match #: 4
Date: Wednesday March 11, 2009
Venue: Hamilton
Captains: Daniel Vettori (NZ) and MS Dhoni (Ind)
Umpires: GAV Baxter and RE Koertzen; EA Watkin-third umpire
Toss: NZ won the toss and decided to bat
Match: India won by 84 runs
Man of the Match: Virendra Sehwag off India
Series: India lead the 5 match series 3-0 with one match abandoned
Additional Information: Match was reduced to 47 overs when rain interrupted twice in NZ innings. India was set 281 (11 runs higher than what NZ scored) in 47 overs. When rain stopped play, India needed 117 to be at par but India were 201 for no wicket.
New Zealand 270 for 5 in 47 overs (JD Ryder caught Raina bowled Yuvaraj Singh 46, BB McCullum LBW Z Khan 77, LRPL Taylor caught Rohit Sharma bowled Yousuf Pathan 5, MJ Guptill caught sub Karthik bowled I Sharma 25, JDP Oram caught Dhoni bowled I Sharma 1, PD McGlashan 56 not out, GD Elliott 35 not out, Extras--25 (lb 9, w 13, nb 3), Zaheer Khan 10-0-49-1, Praveen Kumar 7-0-51-0, Ishanth Sharma 8-0-57-2, Yuvaraj 9-0-40-1, Yousuf Pathan 5-0-14-1, Harbhajan Singh 8-0-50-0)
Fall of Wickets: 1-102 (Ryder, 19.1 ov), 2-114 (Taylor, 22.5 ov), 3-155 (McCullum, 33.4 ov), 4-156 (Oram, 34.1 ov), 5-175 (Guptill, 36.5 ov)
India 201 for no loss in 23.3 overs (Gambhir 63 not out, V Sehwag 125 not out, Extras--13 (lb 9, w 4), KD Mills 5-0-29-0, EP Thompson 4-0-42-0, IE O'Brien 3-0-37-0, DL Vettori 5-0-32-0, JPD Oram 4.3-0-43-0, GD Elliott 2-0-9-0)
