Cricket: NZ suffer at hands of Gambhir - again

New Zealand's batsmen got a respite after the finger was pointed at the bowlers for their last defeat, but the top order will again be scrutinised after failing in a thumping loss to India in the third one-day cricket international at Vadodara, India, today.

New Zealand crashed to a ninth successive one-day defeat from completed matches, humbled by nine wickets by a second-string Indian team which is finding the going far too easy against the hapless tourists.

New Zealand's batsmen will again be in the firing line after posting just 224 for nine batting first on a good wicket at the Reliance Stadium, though their bowling attack is also struggling and may have been unable to defend even 300 given the lack of penetration.

India, guided by a second successive unbeaten hundred by stand-in captain Gautam Gambhir, who finished on 126 not out, passed the target for the loss of just one wicket and with 63 balls to spare.

The hosts went 3-0 up to complete a series win with two matches to play. They won the first match at Guwahati by 40 runs and the second at Jaipur by eight wickets.

It was a procession of New Zealand wickets in the first 30 overs as the tourists failed to apply themselves against the unerringly accurate Indian pacemen, who, led by Zaheer Khan, were also able to swing the ball in the early morning conditions.

Only a determined career-best unbeaten 72 off 108 balls from allrounder James Franklin, in the team at the expense of pace bowler Tim Southee, and a responsible 43 off 53 balls from offspinner Nathan McCullum saw New Zealand achieve some respectability.

They got together with their team in the perilous position of 106 for seven, and a 94-run eighth-wicket stand of maturity at least ensured New Zealand batted the 50 overs.

Brendon McCullum had missed the first two matches with a back injury but returned to the lineup as a batsman only, replacing Jamie How, who unavailable for selection after suffering a stomach bug overnight.

McCullum's contribution lasted one ball, which he guided to third slip in Khan's first over after India won the toss and elected to field.

Martin Guptill hit a six and a four then imploded by running himself out for 12, Ross Taylor edged Khan to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and was out for four, and when Kane Williamson was trapped in front by Munaf Patel for 21, the writing was on the wall at 49 for four.

At that stage the score flattered New Zealand. Williamson and Scott Styris had both survived early leg before wicket shouts which replays clearly showed should have gone the way of the Indians.

Styris could not capitalise on his good fortune, flicking offspinner R Ashwin to a shrewdly placed leg slip when on 22, while Daniel Vettori (3) gifted his wicket to part-time spinner Yusuf Pathan.

When Gareth Hopkins, who retained his position in the team because McCullum's disk problem prevented him from wicketkeeping, departed for six, New Zealand were mired at 106 for seven.

India again handed out a lesson in controlled and confident batting as Gambhir plundered the New Zealand attack with 16 fours in his fine knock, backing up from an unbeaten 138 at Jaipur on Thursday, and No 3 Virat Kohli chimed in with an unbeaten 63

New Zealand's pace attack were again made to look like second class citizens, with spinners Vettori (none for 41 from nine) and Nathan McCullum (none for 36 from eight) the pick of the bowlers. The only dismissal the visitors were able to effect was a run out, Vettori's direct hit getting rid of Murali Vijay for 30 after a 115-run opening stand.

A ninth straight defeat will leave critics pondering if the beleaguered side might threaten the 13 successive defeats tallied from 2003-05.

India are without regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh, all of whom have been rested for the series. Their rotation policy continued today with Khan and left-handed allrounder Ravindra Jadeja in for the rested Shantakumaran Sreesanth and Suresh Raina.

The fourth match is at Bangalore on Tuesday.

Scoreboard

New Zealand
M Guptill run out 12
B McCullum c Vijay b Khan 0
K Williamson lbw b Patel 21
R Taylor c Saha b Khan 4
S Styris c Yuvraj b Ashwin 22
J Franklin not out 72
D Vettori c Yuvraj b Pathan 3
G Hopkins c Yuvraj b Pathan 6
N McCullum c Gambhir b Ashwin 43
K Mills run out 15

Extras (1b, 10lb, 15w) 26

Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs) 224

Fall: 2, 19, 34, 49, 77, 96, 106, 200, 224.

Bowling: Z Khan 8-2-31-2 (4w), A Nehra 8-1-38-0, M Patel 10-0-28-1 (3w), R Ashwin 9-1-49-2 (2w), Y Pathan, 8-0-27-2 (1w), R Jadeja 7-0-40-0 (1w).

India
M Vijay run out 30
G Gambhir not out 126
V Kohli not out 63

Extras (5lb, 5w) 10

Total (for 1 wkt, 39.3 overs) 229

Fall: 115.

Bowling: K Mills 6-0-39-0, A McKay 6.3-0-42-0 (5w), J Franklin 4-0-34-0, D Vettori 9-0-41-0, N McCullum 8-0-36-0, S Styris 6-0-32-0.

- NZPA