Daniel Vettori - Post match press conference
A second consecutive Gautam Gambhir century handed the BLACKCAPS their third loss and the with it the series at Reliance Stadium in Vadodara, India.
India’s stand-in captain carved a superb unbeaten 126 to chase down the BLACKACPS first innings total of 224 for nine - leading his team to a comfortable nine wicket win.
There were 16 boundaries in Gambhir’s classy knock to go with the 138 he racked up in Jaipur on Wednesday. Virat Kohli was also impressive with a sensible 63 not out.
The home team’s three nil lead is courtesy of a 40 run win in Guwahati followed by an eight wicket win in Jaipur and today’s victory in Vadodara.
The BLACKCAPS top order struggled after being put into bat on a seaming wicket with the top four batsmen back in the hut after 15.2 overs with just 49 on the board.
An outstanding 72 not out from James Franklin and gritty 43 from Nathan McCullum put some respectability into the innings.
The pair put on 94 for the eighth wicket after coming together with the team teetering at 106 for seven. Franklin’s career best score came off 108 balls and included five boundaries and a six.
The seamers all suffered at the hands of the Indian top order with Daniel Vettori’s none for 41 and Nathan McCullum’s none for 36 the best of the bowlers.
The team now head to Bangalore for the day/night fourth match on Tueday.
