HAMILTON: An unbeaten 127-run stand between Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja lifted India to 278-5 against New Zealand in the fourth one-day international in Hamilton on Tuesday. Skipper Dhoni, who won the toss and elected to bat, was unbeaten on 79 with Jadeja, India's hero in the tied Auckland game on Saturday, not out 62. Rohit Sharma (79) and Ambati Rayudu (37) were the only other India batsmen to reach double figures. India, needing victory to keep their hopes of drawing the series alive, once again lost wickets to short deliveries.
On the same ground where the West Indies scored 363-4 three weeks ago, India scored at four an over through the first 25 overs. The experiment of promoting Virat Kohli to opener did not pay off and he was dismissed for two in the fourth over when he skied a short-pitched Tim Southee delivery to Jimmy Neesham at midwicket.
Ajinkya Rahane made three before he was caught by Southee, hooking Kyle Mills. Rayudu was removed when he top-edged a Hamish Bennett short ball and was caught behind. Sharma, who had a life on 14 when Ross Taylor dropped a regulation chance in the slips, produced his best innings of the series until surprisingly giving his wicket away on 79, caught behind off part-time spinner Kane Williamson. Ravi Ashwin could not repeat his heroics from the third match in Auckland and fell for five to leave India 151-5 in the 34th over before an onslaught from Dhoni and Jadeja gave the scoreboard a more respectable look. Dhoni, who ended the innings with his third six, faced 73 balls for his 79, his third consecutive half century against New Zealand.
Jadeja's 62 off 54 deliveries included two sixes and eight fours and followed his 66 not out in Auckland. For New Zealand, Southee was the most economical bowler with two wickets for 36.
New Zealand won the first two games in the five-match series with the third game tied.
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