Five-wicket victory for India over NZ in one-day cricket
AFP
January 16 1999
AUCKLAND, Jan 16 (AFP) - In-form batsman Rahul Dravid steered India to a
convincing five-wicket victory against New Zealand in the fourth one-day
cricket international at Eden Park here Saturday.
Dravid, India's most consistent batsman of their tour, hammered a confident
51 in an 88-run partnership with Saurav Ganguly to set his team on the way to a
comfortable win.
After restricting New Zealand to 207 for eight off 50 overs, India mowed
down the target for the loss of five wickets and with 6.1 overs to spare.
India's chase began badly when star batsman Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged
leg before wicket to Chris Cairns for five.
But Dravid and Ganguly turned the game around with their partnership and,
even when they were dismissed in quick succession, captain Mohammad Azharuddin
and Ajay Jadeja put the game in safe keeping with a 63-run stand for the fourth
wicket.
Ganguly played the aggressor at the fall of Tendulkar's wicket and he was
first to the half-century mark.
His 21st one-day 50 took 69 balls and included eight fours.
He was dismissed for 50 to the first ball of Cairns's second spell when he
edged a catch to wicketkeeper Adam Parore.
Dravid reached his 13th one-day half century in 67 balls including five
fours and one six but he added just one more run before playing onto his stumps
off Cairns.
Cairns' three-over spell for four runs and two wickets gave New Zealand a
glimmer of hope but Jadeja, who got 36, and Azharuddin with 35 went on the
attack.
They were both particularly severe on left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who
was hit for two sixes in the 31st over of the innings.
Fast-medium bolwer Simon Doull dismissed both batsmen in the 40th over to
reduce India to 188 for five but Robin Singh and Nayan Mongia kept their
composure for a comfortable win.
``We are playing good cricket at the moment and hopefully we can finish off
the series with a win in Christchurch,'' Azharuddin said.
Wily Indian pace bowler Javagal Srinath set up the win when he sliced the
top off New Zealand's innings.
Srinath capitalised on perfect seam bowling conditions, after Azharuddin
elected to bowl first, and took the first three wickets to fall.
New Zealand were 29 for three after 8.1 overs with openers Bryan Young and
Matthew Horne and Roger Twose all back in the pavilion.
India leads the series 2-1 with the final match to played in Christchurch on Tuesday. The third match was rained off in
Wellington earlier this week.
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