The game at the Eden Park here on Saturday had just about everything; dominance, slumps, drama, fightbacks and moments of inspiration.

And heroes emerged in this gut-wrenching duel of fortune swings where both teams finished on 314 on a wicket with pace and consistent b bounce.

Martin Guptill made a stroke-filled hundred for New Zealand, Corey Anderson found himself among big wickets, and then Mahendra Singh Dhoni, R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja led a stirring Indian counter-attack with aggressive half-centuries.

The air was suffused with tension as the final over began. When the dust settled, the third ODI had concluded in a sensational tie.

Innings of character

The explosive Jadeja almost pulled off the impossible with an unbeaten 66 of character. As the night wore on, tensions rose in the Kiwi camp. There was a close caught behind shout against Jadeja, that might have been a    genuine edge.

When Anderson began the final over, India required 18 with just one wicket left.

The influential Anderson had scalped five by mixing his length capably. His mind calm in the cauldron, Jadeja settled into his stance. The crowd turned silent in anticipation of the face-off.

Anderson, finally undone by some pressure, sent down two wides in the over. The inspired Jadeja powered the Kiwi to the mid-wicket fence, turned one fine for a boundary, and thwacked a short delivery over the ropes. The Indians supporters roared.

India needed two off the last delivery. Jadeja and last man Varun Aaron scampered a single.

New Zealand leads the series 2-0 with two games remaining. Staring at a defeat for most part, even a tie was a heist for India.

The game’s defining moment arrived in the 49th over. Jadeja — he had clubbed Mitchell McClenaghan for a six over mid-wicket — was put down at third man fence by Hamish Bennett.

The dependable Kiwis made a few errors under stress. ‘Keeper Luke Ronchi fluffed a stumping to reprieve Ashwin.

Promoted in the batting order, Ashwin (65) stroked with authority and common sense. He utilised the angles in the field cleverly, gliding and glancing fine.


More at http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/stirring-fightback-by-india-and-a-tie-ensues/article5619046.ece