India attained an unassailable lead by 3-0 in the five ODI series against New Zealand as they beat the hosts by 84 runs in the fourth ODI in Hamilton on Wednesday. Brendon McCullum’s 77 shot New Zealand to 270 which was revised to 281 for India according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.

New Zealand had a smooth start after they won the toss and elected to bat first. McCullum and Jesse Ryder (46) put together 102 for the first wicket stand. Twice interrupted by rain, the Kiwi innings lost the momentum and lost five wickets in a gap of sixty runs. Keeper Peter McGlashan and Grant Elliott revived the slumping innings as they built a 95-run invincible partnership for the sixth wicket from 61 deliveries. McGlashan registered his maiden half-ton on his home ground with his innings of 56* which included five fours and one six. Elliott scored 35 not out from 27 balls.

In response, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, opening in Sachin Tendulkar’s absence zoomed India off to a dream start. Sehwag played a royal innings of unbeaten 125 which included six sixes and fourteen boundaries as he led India to victory. Gambhir on his part played the perfect counterpart as he added 63 off 67 deliveries. Sehwag’s hundred goes down as the fastest ton by an Indian and seventh fastest in the ODI history as he raised his 100 in just 60 balls. New Zealand bowlers failed entirely in trying to rein in the Indian blitzkrieg, especially Iain O’Brien was slaughtered mercilessly for over 12 runs per over.

The original New Zealand target of 270 was revised to 281 from 47 overs after the first Duckworth-Lewis calculation. After another interruption when Sehwag had just completed his half century, the target was re-revised to 263 from 43 overs. After the fourth interruption, the final target was set to 220 from 36 overs. India were 201 for no loss from 23.23 overs when the game was interrupted for the fifth time.

India were awarded the victory by 84 runs by the D/L method. Virender Sehwag was adjudged the Man of the Match for his superb innings.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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