Gambhir takes India home, hosts win series 3-0 against NZ

Vadodara: Skipper Gautam Gambhir cracked an unbeaten 126, his second century on the trot, to power India to a series-clinching nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third ODI here today.

The Delhi left-hander played a captain’s knock that followed his match-winning unbeaten 138 in the second ODI in Jaipur on December 1 as India easily chased down the target of 225 in 39.3 overs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Gambhir, who smashed 16 boundaries with his flicks and drives in the 117 balls he faced, put on 115 runs for the opening wicket with Murali Vijay who made a slow 30 in 50 balls before being run out.

For this match, India made two changes to their side with paceman Zaheer Khan coming in place of S Sreesanth and Ravindra Jadeja taking place of Suresh Raina.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand: 224 for 9 in 50 overs. (James Franklin 72 not out, Nathan McCullum 43; Zaheer Khan 2/31, Yusuf Pathan 2/37).

India: 229 for 1 in 39.3 opvers. (Gautam Gambhir 126 not out, Virat Kohli 63).