India beat New Zealand by five wickets in fourth ODI

When Kyle Mills came on to bowl the 43rd over India needed 72 runs off 42 deliveries. The senior Pathan hit Mills for three boundaries and a huge six over mid-wicket. He took 21 runs from the over and brought equation down.

In the next over he hit Andy McKay for a flat batted tennis shot over long to complete a well deserved maiden century in ODIs.

The best of the seven sixes was the one off Mills which was hit more than 100 metres hitting the roof of the stadium and disappearing further.

Even an hour’s delay due to rain couldn’t stop Yusuf as he lifted Vettori for a huge six of the first delivery he faced after break.

Yusuf had two fruitful partnerships — first with Rohit Sharma (44,48 balls,4×4,1×6) when they added 80 runs in 13.5 overs and then 133 runs with Saurabh Tiwary (37 not out 3×4,1×6) for the sixth wicket.

This was incidentally the highest run-chase in an ODI at this ground. It was young Saurabh who finished the proceedings with a six off Nathan McCullum.

Parthiv Patel (53,57 balls,8×4) playing his first one day match after six and half years got his maiden ODI fifty.

Along with skipper Gautam Gambhir (27,24 balls,4×4),he added 67 runs for the first wicket before Gambhir was out trying to cut a widish delivery from left-arm seamer Andy McKay.

Virat Kohli (0) who has been in splendid form was out when he mistimed a hook shot after McKay dug in one short and was holed out at long leg where Kyle Mills took a simple catch.

Patel whose innings was full of flashy shots through the third-man and point region completed his fifty in the company of Yuvraj Singh (20) who started off with a six but couldn’t get elevation trying to hit off-spinner Nathan McCullum over mid-wicket as Jamie How took a smart low catch.

Earlier,James Franklin once again turned out to be an unlikely hero with the willow as his smashing innings of an unbeaten 98 from only 69 deliveries helped New Zealand reach a commanding 315 for seven in 50 overs.