Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja produced a valiant effort with the bat but couldn't take his side over the rope as the Men in Blues went down in the ODI series. Chasing 274 runs, the visitors finished 22 runs short at the Eden Park in Auckland on February 8 (Saturday). However, it was a good day for Jadeja with both bat and ball as he achieved an incredible record.
Batting first, the top-order of New Zealand made significant contributions to post a challenging total on the scoreboard. Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls gave an outstanding start before Ross Taylor played another gem of an innings to lead his side's batting. Taylor was unbeaten on 73 runs while debutant Kyle Jamieson chipped in with 25 runs to post 273 runs at the end of 50 overs.
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Chasing a moderate total of 274 runs, India were never in line for the run-chase. They lost their top-order cheaply as Virat Kohli & Co failed to stitch a partnership. Prithvi Shaw and Kohli threw their wickets after getting settled before Shreyas Iyer played another great hand. However, he failed to convert the half-century before Ravindra Jadeja and Navdeep Saini almost took India home. But the Kiwi bowlers bounced back timely to seal the series as India fell short of 22 runs.
Jadeja played a gritty knock of 55 runs from 73 balls including two fours and one six but couldn't take his side over the rope. As soon as he crossed the fifty-run mark, he became the first Indian to score seven half-centuries batting on the number seven spot. He has surpassed former Indian captains; MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev, who have six half-centuries each batting while batting at No. 7 for India.
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India will look to finish the ODI series on a winning note when they lock horns with the Kiwis in the final match of the series on February 11 (Tuesday).
