Related Links : Micromax Cup 2010 Tri-Series in Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka Player Pages : India Player Pages : Scorecard of India Vs New Zealand, 6th Match of the Micromax Cup at Dambulla
India will face Sri Lanka in the Tri-Series Final after crushing New Zealand by 105 runs in the last league match at Dambulla. Courtesy of a brilliant 110 (from 93 balls with 16 fours and a six) from opener Virender Sehwag, India registered a healthy total of 223 before getting bowled out in 46.3 overs. Sehwag was the Man of the Match. This was after MS Dhoni had won the toss and elected to bat first.
New Zealand found it difficult to bat under the lights with the duo of Praveen Kumar and Ashish Nehra swinging and seaming the ball according to their will. After losing Guptill in the second ball through an lbw to Praveen Kumar, New Zealand slipped quickly to 22 for 4 in the 9th over when the most experienced batsman Scott Styris dragged a drive onto the stumps.
Half of the Kiwi side was back in the hut in the 16th over with just 41 on the board. There was no breather at all for the black caps with the back up bowlers – Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel getting the ball to seam in both directions as well and the Kiwis were in shambles at 53 for 8. However, an attacking 52 (from 35 balls) by Kyle Mills saw New Zealand past three figures. They were eventually bowled out for 118 in 30.1 overs. All the four pacers got amongst the wickets for India with Praveen Kumar and Munaf getting the most rewards with three each.
India batting first had also lost a wicket in the first over itself and were in a miserable state of 66 for 4 in the 13th over. That was when Skipper MS Dhoni (38 from 75 balls) engaged in a 107-run stand with Virender Sehwag to provide a perfect platform for the slog overs. That partnership was wasted though as India collapsed to 223 all out in the next few overs. Tim Southee took four wickets and off spinner Nathan McCullum got three to restrict the Indians from reaching a much better total.