Taylor ton seals N Zealand ODI series win over India

FE Team | Published: January 29, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

HAMILTON, Jan 28 (AFP): New Zealand sealed their one-day international series against India with a game to spare Tuesday when a Ross Taylor century set up a convincing seven-wicket victory in the fourth ODI.
It was New Zealand's third win in the five-match series, with one match tied and one remaining.
At Hamilton's Seddon Park, they chased down India's 278-5 for the loss of only three wickets and with 11 balls to spare after Taylor paved the way with a masterful 112 not out.
He received sound support from Kane Williamson (60) as they rebuilt the innings and then from Brendon McCullum (49 not out), who finished the match with a colossal six.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had won the toss and opted to bowl in the first three games, won the toss again and this time decided to bat.
But the change of tactics did not improve their fortunes.
In addition to losing the series, India also slipped from number one in the world one-day rankings to number two, behind Australia.
New Zealand improved from a lowly eighth to seventh.
McCullum described Taylor's innings as the "match-winning performance" on a wicket that tends to favour the side batting first.
"We knew someone was going to have to get a big 100 and we saw it from Rosco (Taylor). Obviously his partnership with Kane was the backbone of our innings."
Dhoni paid credit to the New Zealand bowlers whom he said set up the victory.
"They put pressure on the batsmen to play the big shots and at times it doesn't pay (to play them). We lost wickets at the wrong time, which put pressure on the middle order," the Indian captain said.
Faced with a target of 279 on a run-laden wicket, New Zealand opened at a rapid rate with Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill clocking up 54 in seven overs before falling in quick succession.
Ryder was bowled by Varun Aaron for 19 and Guptill was trapped leg before by Mohammed Shami for 35, leaving Williamson and Taylor to consolidate the innings as they have done so often before.
Their cautious approach to India's spin twins Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja saw the run rate slump, although New Zealand still reached 100 in 22 overs compared to 25 overs for India.
Williamson and Taylor put on 130 for the third wicket, taking New Zealand to 188, when the partnership was broken by a slick piece of fielding by Jadeja.