India sealed a one-day international series win against New Zealand after Virender Sehwag smashed New Zealand’s bowlers in the seventh fastest ODI century ever here on Wednesday.
India won the fourth rain-shortened match by 10 wickets to go 3-0 up in the five-match series as their openers, Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, treated the New Zealand bowling attack with disdain in a rain-interrupted match.
New Zealand scored 270 for five in 47 overs in their innings and more rain interruptions saw India declared winners after reaching 201 for none from 23.3 overs.
Sehwag was brutal in scoring 125, reaching three figures off just 60 balls to record the seventh fastest one-day century ever.
His armoury of pull shots, drives and cuts saw the opener finish with 14 fours and six sixes from 74 balls.
Gambhir was the perfect partner for Sehwag, turning over the strike with frequent singles while still finishing with 63 runs off 67 balls.
New Zealand’s bowlers were grim-faced after a nightmare match, finding nothing they tried working against the rampant opening pair.
They have had a series to forget against the star-laden Indian line-up, who hit 392-4 in the previous one-dayer in Christchurch at the weekend.
Debutant Ewen Thompson, Iain O’Brien and Jacob Oram were all hit for at least 10 runs an over on Wednesday.
Earlier, New Zealand battled to 270 for five, after openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder got the home side off to a flying start, putting on 102 for the first wicket.
McCullum anchored the top of the New Zealand innings, topscoring with 77 from 95 balls in a carefully paced knock, including seven fours and two sixes.
Ryder followed his century in the third ODI in Christchurch with 46, and was the first out after skying an attempted sweep off part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh to Suresh Raina at square leg in the 20th over.
India’s bowlers were able to put the brakes on the middle stages of New Zealand’s innings, restricting the scoring as wickets fell at regular intervals.
As in Christchurch, where the opening pair put on 166 runs, the innings lost its way after Ryder and McCullum were prised apart, with five wickets falling in the space of 73 runs and 17 overs.
But a late surge by Peter McGlashan — standing in as wicketkeeper while McCullum recovers from a thumb injury — with an undefeated 56 and Grant Elliott (35 not out), added a valuable 95 runs in the last 11 overs.
McGlashan scored his first ODI half century in just his third one-day international to keep New Zealand’s hopes alive with six fours and a six off 42 balls.
Pathan was the most economical of the Indian bowlers, finishing with one for 14 off five overs, while Ishant Sharma, returning from a shoulder injury, gradually found some rhythm after a wayward start to end with two for 57 from eight overs. — Sapa-AFP