So with players' views coming in, we are done with our coverage of the fourth ODI. On Saturday, a day before Diwali, this series will witness its decider, in Vizag. There has been wretched news of rain threatening that match, but here is hoping we have an uninterrupted decider. This has been an excellent series so far. Thanks for joining us today
"It certainly is a great feeling," says Martin Guptill, Man of the Match. "To put up a performance myself and give the team a defendable total is satisfying. We thought we could have got more but it was a defendable total. It came down to our bowlers to do the job, and they did. Virat Is a class player and to get him early was a big step."
"Absolutely happy and proud," says Kane Williamson. "What we wanted was build partnerships. It was not an easy surface. Although you always want more, 260 was not a bad effort on that surface. Coming here, we had to decide between dew that may or may not come in versus the deterioration. The dew didn't come in, so that perhaps worked in our favour. Tough decisions to drop Anderson and Ronchi. We have played on different surfaces so that affects selection. Also it has been a long tour. It's exciting to go 2-2; India is a great side, it is exciting to go level into the final match."
"I think it was the first 10 where we gave away a lot of runs and the extras,". says MS Dhoni. "I think we could have still chased 260 if we had wickets in hand. Quite similar to Delhi where we kept losing wickets. The wicket was best to bat on in the afternoon, and it kept getting slower and slower. The new ball under lights still came on but as it got older it became difficult. The Nos 5 and 6 are quite new, they will learn their own way. Some will play big shots, some will take it deep. Once they have played 15-20 games, they will figure out what works for them. Cricket has changed, people like to play big shots. It is important to not tell them to stop playing the shots; you don't want them to go into their shells. They played their shots when the ball was in their area. They will learn after they have played 15-20 games. Usually there is dew at this time of the year, and in Indian cricket the moment you talk about dew you want to bowl first. We will have to be at our best in the decider."
9.20pm This win has "New Zealand" written all over it. They are technically not as good as India in these conditions, but what they do well is read the conditions excellently and have the tactics spot on. They saw a dry pitch, picked three spinners, batted first despite the prospect of dew, and went hammer and tongs in the first 10 overs knowing the spinners would be very difficult to get away once the balls grow older. Their start was perhaps a bit better than even they would have expected, which is what would have left them disappointed with just 260 on board, but once they crossed 230 you knew this was going to be a tight chase
In response the New Zealand spinners - bar Santner didn't start that well - and the Rahane-Kohli partnership seemed to be running away with it. However, once Sodhi got Kohli out, New Zealand put the squeeze on. Wickets came regularly, the batsmen didn't seem prepared to take it deep, and New Zealand fielders were excellent when the batsmen took undue risks. Just a really canny team effort in what Santner says was "a scrap". And New Zealand love it when you make it a bit of a scrap. Do hang around for the presentation
UT Yadav c Taylor b Boult 7 (26m 12b 0x4 0x6) SR: 58.33
Yadav on strike. Expect a big wind-up
SG: "Like that the crowd are still staying in, shows the change in people enjoying the game and not about just winning. 10 years ago I would've switched off the TV like an hour ago."
Two a ball required now
Southee's over - just four runs - has now brought it up to 23 off 12. India need a boundary early in this over. They have Nos 10 and 11 at the wicket. New Zealand inching closer
Boult round the wicket
END OF OVER:48 | 4 Runs | IND: 238/9 (23 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 4.95, RRR: 11.50)
- Dhawal Kulkarni23 (24b)
- Umesh Yadav6 (10b)
- Tim Southee9-0-40-3
- Trent Boult9-1-45-1
So now three men deep on the leg side. Slower ball coming up. Mid-off should be his zone
Excellent over so for for NZ
Mid-off is up
Midwicket comes in for Kulkarni. What's the plan now?
When these two came together India needed 54. They have cut the deficit by half. India need 27 now. At 9 an over. Southee will bowl two of these overs. Three men deep on the leg side. Expect offcutters
END OF OVER:47 | 8 Runs | IND: 234/9 (27 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 4.97, RRR: 9.00)
- Dhawal Kulkarni21 (20b)
- Umesh Yadav4 (8b)
- Trent Boult9-1-45-1
- Mitchell Santner10-0-38-1
Back round the wicket
Back over the wicket
With Boult the big shot is a big risk. He is very accurate
Both the main spinners have bowled out. That leaves Southee and Boult to finish off. Boult goes round the wicket
END OF OVER:46 | 7 Runs | IND: 226/9 (35 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 4.91, RRR: 8.75)
- Dhawal Kulkarni16 (16b)
- Umesh Yadav2 (6b)
- Mitchell Santner10-0-38-1
- Ish Sodhi10-1-52-1
And now you see the dew affecting them
END OF OVER:45 | 9 Runs | IND: 219/9 (42 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 4.86, RRR: 8.40)
- Dhawal Kulkarni11 (11b)
- Umesh Yadav1 (5b)
- Ish Sodhi10-1-52-1
- Mitchell Santner9-0-31-1