India set 270 target for Black Caps in Vizag ODI

Blistering half centuries from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have enabled India to set a competitive target of 270 runs for New Zealand in the fifth and final ODI here at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.

Put in to field first, New Zealand put in another hardworking bowling effort to restrict India to 269 for 6 which rode on the innings of 70 and 65 from Sharma and Kohli respectively in the series decider.

However, none of the teams got entirely on top of the other with the visitors breaking partnerships just as they threatened to swell menacingly.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was just beginning to get into gear when he was dismissed after stitching a 71-run third-wicket stand with Kohli.

However, the hosts would have been bowled out for a paltry score after Kohli fell to leave India 220 for 5 in the 44th over.

But Kedhar Jadhav and Axar Patel added 46 in 39 balls to give Men in Blue what seemed a slight edge at the innings break, considering the slowness of the surface and the presence of three specialist spinners in their attack.

At the time of reporting, the Black Caps were 19-1 after four overs.