Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
50 | 17 Runs | IND: 314/9 (1 run required, RR: 6.28)

  • Ravindra Jadeja66 (45b)
  • Varun Aaron2 (3b)
  • Corey Anderson10-1-63-5
  • Mitchell McClenaghan10-0-76-0

And so ends a terrific encounter between these two, with the result being a tie despite NZ racking up a daunting 314 in the first innings. Rohit and Dhawan got the show off to a blazing start, then it was left to the integral middle-order of Raina and Dhoni to try and stabilise things after some wickets fell in a cluster. It finally ended with some outstanding striking from Ashwin and Jadeja. So as it stands New Zealand still lead the five-match ODI series 2-0, and India will be buoyed by the fact that they still remain very much in the series, and even though they can not win it outright, they can still save face and square the series. So till the 4th ODI, which will be held on January 28 in Hamilton, this is Rohan Sharma signing off for ESPNcricinfo on behalf of the scorer, Sanjay Murari.

Ravindra Jadeja, Man of the Match: I feel very happy because I have done something for the team. I just wanted to play till the last ball, but unfortunately we didn't cross the line, but we have learned a lot from this game. I think we bowled well, but the straight boundaries are very short.

MS Dhoni, India captain: I think we batted well. But if we are to pick situations where we could have closed the game quite comprehensively, those were the situations we did not grab. It is a bit disappointing, but overall a good result as it keeps us alive in the series. Even if we can't win it, we can go for the draw. I think the straight boundaries were quite short, and even the bowlers who bowled quick, their strengths are all about going full and going for yorkers, and when it doesn't then it tends to be hit down the ground. I think overall 300 would have been fantastic, and we had a chance but we couldn't quite do it. I had faith in them (Ashwin and Jadeja), but my problems started when Jadeja told Bhuvi what he needs to do. Ashwin should have batted till the end, but this is also the first time he was put into a position like this. I definitely feel like he is someone who can definitely bat like a batsman, and has improved his power hitting as well, which he has been working on.

Brendon McCullum, NZ captain: I thought it was a brilliant game of cricket. India showed why they are one of the powerhouses of India cricket. We thought we had a powerful score, but I guess that wasn't the case. They did well to get as close as they did. We had a few opportunities at the end which we didn't take, which does hurt. We don't tell the batters anything. We just trust they know their games and if they play well then they can definitely get us in a position. We didn't' utilize the position well initially when we lost a few too many wickets at one stretch. But credit to India for standing up and not lying down at any stage and keep us on our toes. I thought our guys bowled pretty well. We missed a few times, but that is the nature of ODIs, and it hurt when it did. There was a bit of sloppiness in there, but it is hard to fault what was a brilliant game of cricket. Hamish was great. He has had much publicized issues with injury, but the way he came back and bowled tonight, and with good pace, he will definitely play a big part in this series. Guptill definitely stepped up and played as fluent as I have ever seen. When guys at the top get hundreds, it is always a good thing.

We will be back for quotes from the match presentation

The New Zealand side look a little bitter as they trudge off the field of play, while the Indians seem to have realised what a lucky escape they have got out of this one. Jadeja has built on the good work of both Dhoni and Ashwin as India manage to tie this high-scoring thriller off the very last ball. New Zealand will be leaving with heavy hearts as they ponder just how they let this one go?

49.6
1
Anderson to Jadeja, 1 run, and Jadeja succeeds in getting the tying run as he works this fuller one away towards mid-off, with silly mid-off cutting it off, but unable to stop the single. They don't bother to go back for the second as they know they are still in the series

The NZ think tank are going through the field. Just 2 off 1 now. Amazing stuff

49.5
6
Anderson to Jadeja, SIX, Jadeja has just transcended a level as he simply hammers this short of a length ball right over the midwicket boundary for a six. The Indian contingent in the crowd go berserk. Now they need just 2 off 1. Can we possibly get a tied game now?
49.4
4
Anderson to Jadeja, FOUR, back of a length as Jadeja improvises a flick that he is able to maneuver to the vacant fine leg region for four
49.4
1w
Anderson to Jadeja, 1 wide, an attempted yorker speared down the leg side as he gets well out of its way, with the umpire calling yet another wide
49.3
0
Anderson to Jadeja, no run, backs away but realises the angle is closing in on him as he opens the face to run this to third man, but refuses the single. Looks like he has learned from El Capitano
49.2
0
Anderson to Jadeja, no run, backs away but cannot connect as he goes for a hard slap over the covers. Still need 13 off 4
49.2
1w
Anderson to Jadeja, 1 wide, Jadeja thought about shuffling to the leg side, but decides to hold his ground as he sees this short ball slanting down the leg side. Umpire calls a wide, and NZ have a hissy fit
49.1
4
Anderson to Jadeja, FOUR, back of a length and just clubbed away by Jadeja to the deep midwicket boundary. Just what India needed. Anderson now under pressure for the remainder of the over

Anderson, who achieved a maiden five-wicket haul just before, will bowl this final over

So the equation is now 18 off 6 with one wicket remaining. Still heavily in NZ's favour, but stranger things have happened...

END OF OVER:
49 | 11 Runs | IND: 297/9 (18 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.06, RRR: 18.00)

  • Varun Aaron2 (3b)
  • Ravindra Jadeja51 (39b)
  • Mitchell McClenaghan10-0-76-0
  • Corey Anderson9-1-46-5

Dan: "110 runs since Dhoni got out and I thought the game was over.."

48.6
0
McClenaghan to Aaron, no run, back of a length outside off as Aaron has a flash at it, but doesn't quite get bat on ball
48.5
1
McClenaghan to Jadeja, 1 run, another short one as Jadeja goes after it, not totally in control, but still able to land this pull safely in the square leg region
48.5
1w
McClenaghan to Jadeja, 1 wide, slow bouncer from McClenaghan which has been called wide by the umpire, much to the frustration of the big unit, who has some choice words
48.4
1
McClenaghan to Aaron, 1 run, Aaron able to find a single with a dab to the leg side, with Jadeja running like Bolt to the other end

Also brings up Jadeja's fifty as well. Well played young man

48.3
1
McClenaghan to Jadeja, 1 run, dropped Jadeja given a shorter one to go after, and he does, hitting this well over to third man, and Bennett, who is stationed there, comes in to try and take it, but ends up bobbling it as he dives
48.2
6
McClenaghan to Jadeja, SIX, Jadeja you beauty! Is able to get under this fuller one from McClenaghan as he clears his front leg before tonking him over midwicket for a huge six
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  • Jadeja, Ashwin keep series alive with tie

    On a surreal night that New Zealand kept swinging between spectacular and silly, they just couldn't conjure enough to close the deal against a resilient Indian lower middle order, which snuck a tie to keep the series alive

  • McCullum rues one that got away

    New Zealand were so close to sealing the series with what looked like a third successive victory but it was not to be, and Brendon McCullum praised India for their fightback

India 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st64S DhawanRG Sharma
2nd8RG SharmaV Kohli
3rd2V KohliAM Rahane
4th5SK RainaAM Rahane
5th67MS DhoniSK Raina
6th38MS DhoniR Ashwin
7th85R AshwinRA Jadeja
8th6RA JadejaB Kumar
9th11RA JadejaMohammed Shami
10th28RA JadejaVR Aaron