Pathan magic seals win for India
BANGALORE, India — Yusuf
Pathan hammered a career-best
123 not out off just 96 balls as
India pulled off a thrilling five-
wicket win in the fourth one-day
international against New
Zealand on Tuesday.
The all-rounder clubbed seven
fours and seven sixes on the way
to his maiden one-day century to
help the hosts overhaul New
Zealand's challenging 315-7 with
seven balls to spare at the
Chinnaswamy Stadium in
Bangalore.
The victory put India on course
for a series whitewash over the
Black Caps who trail 4-0 with
one game remaining to be
played in Chennai on Friday.
Pathan clobbered the New
Zealand attack with his
aggressive innings, putting on
133 runs for the unfinished sixth
wicket with Saurabh Tiwary (37
not out) after India had been
reduced to 188-5 in the 34th
over.
Pathan also played a key role
with the ball, grabbing three
New Zealand wickets for 49 runs
off nine overs.
James Franklin top-scored for
the Kiwis with an unbeaten 98
off 69 balls including 12 fours
and three sixes.
"I have always said Pathan can
finish games on his own, and
that's what he did today," Indian
captain Gautam Gambhir said.
"I had never seen something like
this before. But I knew till the
time Pathan was there, we would
win the game."
Paceman Andy McKay took two
wickets in two balls to spoil a
rollicking start by India that saw
openers Gambhir (27) and
Parthiv Patel put on 67 runs in
less than 10 overs.
Gambhir, the leading run-getter
in the series, cut McKay to point
where Martin Guptill took a
sharp catch and Virat Kohli was
caught by Kyle Mills for a duck.
Patel, playing his first one-day
international in six years, raced
to his maiden one-day half-
century off 50 balls but was
dismissed three runs later by
Nathan McCullum.
India looked in deep trouble
after losing Yuvraj Singh for 20
runs but man of the match
Pathan ensured another fine win
for the hosts.
"It was a great game of cricket,"
said New Zealand skipper Daniel
Vettori.
"We were in the game, but
Pathan was pretty amazing.
Franklin played exceptionally
well too to give us a formidable
total, but Pathan took the game
away from us."
Franklin had underlined a
spirited batting display by the
visitors after they were put in to
bat in the day-night game. Scott
Styris (46), Ross Taylor (44) and
Brendon McCullum (42) also
chipped in with valuable knocks.
Franklin, who had top-scored
with 72 in the third match in
Vadodara, provided the late
impetus, helping New Zealand
add 63 runs in the last five overs.
He hit two sixes and as many
fours in the last over by Ashish
Nehra (2-70) to take the visitors
past the 300-run mark.
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